Kids with diabetes face a challenge on Halloween: what to do with all the candy. While their friends are busy consuming their trick-or-treat booty, kids with diabetes must be more careful.
There are many possible approaches to helping kids with diabetes enjoy Halloween, including:
Exchange candy collected while trick-or-treating with something else, such as a small toy or money. Younger kids might like this, especially since they can get something more permanent than candy.
Donate candy collected -- or most of it -- to a local children's hospital or your local American Diabetes Association. Older kids might feel good about helping other kids.
Keep selected candy and fit it into your child's meal plan. With carbohydrate counting and a fast-acting insulin such as Humalog or NovoLog, you can easily accommodate an occasional treat.
Alternatives to Candy
You may even wish to choose non-candy treats to give away. Some families give out Halloween-themed pencils, small plastic bugs, glow-in-the-dark rubber balls, or other small toys instead of candy. These kinds of items are readily available at local party-supply stores, or via mail-order from places (like the Oriental Trading Company).
