Halloween: More Treat & Less Trick

Oh Halloween, I remember the days of trick or treating! Finding the neighborhood, the houses that gave away the BEST and BIGGEST candies. It was all about getting the most I could possibly get, sometimes having more than one bag to be more “efficient.”

My children also went out knocking on doors getting the most they could. I struggled each year knowing that eating all that candy wasn’t really a good idea for them … or for me.

It wasn’t until I was well into my 40s— when I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes— that I finally understood sugar’s impact. I used to joke around before that day and say, “I can’t believe I’m not diabetic since I have a mouth full of sweet teeth.” For some reason, I thought that since I wasn’t diabetic YET, I was special and never would be!

Being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes isn’t something that happens overnight; it happens over years and years. The CDC is currently reporting that more than 34 million Americans have diabetes (about 1 in 10), and approximately 90-95% of them have type 2 diabetes.

YES, you can avoid it! Even if already diagnosed, your lifestyle NOW can make a huge difference that can reverse, or at least reduce the severity of this chronic disease.  I am sharing with you my favorite TEDx Talk on “Reversing Type 2 Diabetes”.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Click on image below to be redirected to YouTube.

Don’t blame yourself if you are one of the millions “addicted” to sugar, sweets, or crunchy carbs. It truly is addictive in many ways.

This is a big part of why I decided to become Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition: To help others. I spent my adult life knowing in the back of my mind that all the sugar I was consuming wasn’t a good idea, but I really had no idea of the consequences. Not only that, I couldn’t stop eating sugar even when I tried, so I continually relapsed.  If you or someone you know is there as well, read this blog post to get some great ideas on breaking that sugar cycle!  I am also here if you would like some help.

What better time is there to shed light on our diabetes epidemic than with Halloween’s tradition of “Trick or Treat”.  We have spent the last 20 months or so being told that Type 2 diabetes is considered a “risk factor” for Covid.   Co-morbidities in COVID-19 patients often lead to more severe outcomes. I can count on one hand, actually with just one finger, the number of times I heard on the news that one of the more common co-morbidities, Type 2 diabetes is reversible AND we should start working on doing that NOW!  I did hear plenty on the news around incentives like free daily donuts, fast food burgers, and alcohol for getting vaccinated.  What is wrong with us?

It’s not just about Halloween anymore!

Well, here we are and it’s halloween again and we have a choice, we always have a choice.  I know we all want to be safe and not just when it comes to halloween.  We want to avoid chronic disease and minimize our risk to severe Covid illness.  Is our safety really something that a little hand sanitizer can ensure as Dr. Nanda recommends or is it maybe a little more systemic like working to reduce the co-morbidities.   I’m not saying that we shouldn’t use hand sanitizer when appropriate.  I am saying that working to address the root of the potential T2 Diabetes is how we get healthier from the inside out.  Hand sanitizer in this case is a bandaid, but changing dietary lifestyle is a long term solution. There’s a growing type 2 diabetes problem in our young people, per the CDC.

Here are some ideas that remove much of the sugar from the holiday for both children and adults.

1. GIVE out stickers, glow lights, pens, pencils, bouncy balls. These gifts last slightly longer and you won’t binge on them yourself. How many times do we buy bags of candy for Halloween that we think we won’t eat … but then do? And there’s always some left over.
2. PLAY “Switch Witch” with your children on Halloween night. They eat a little of their candy on Halloween and then you offer them a surprise from the “Switch Witch” in exchange for the remainder of their candy. They wake to find their candy gone and another gift in its place. This gift should be something that you know they want and would treasure.
3. MAKE some homemade goodies for your friends and family. This way you control the ingredients and can keep it reasonably sweet and healthy.
4. TOSS leftover candy in the garbage. Yup, it seems like a waste. But none of us need the temptation to eat our way to Type 2 Diabetes. I guess you could offer it to your enemies, but that’s probably bad karma and just not very nice.
5. DRESS UP in your costumes and have a great time walking around the neighborhood or business areas.  Take the time to say hello to folks that you probably haven’t seen in a while or may be meeting for the first time.  Eat dinner before going out and have a delicious dessert waiting at home for when you are done with the evening.

I’m sorry if you find this information a “bummer”. Please don’t shoot the messenger! I really have regret for how I treated my body for so many years and want to help others avoid the same plight.  After reading the  article about how to stay safe during Halloween by using hand sanitizer, I just had to speak up.  We should all be working on being healthy from the inside out especially in today’s environment.  Coming up soon….what is sugar consumption doing for our immune system?

I manage my Type 2 now with diet and lifestyle. Is it hard work? Absolutely, but it’s worth it.

If you want to avoid this chronic disease, work on reversing it, or reduce your sugar and carb cravings, I’m here to help you!   Just reach out…