7 Ways to Survive the Holidays When You Have Type 2 Diabetes

First, some tough love: “This season comes around every year; it didn’t sneak up on you!” Dr. Anderson says.

Point being, when you know in advance what curveballs are coming, you can figure out how to avoid (or at least manage) them.

For example, physical activity is crucial for people with diabetes, since it can help keep both weight and blood sugar in check. But if you’re someone who loves to play golf or walk outside, you need a plan B for when there’s ice and snow on the ground.

“You should anticipate that it will be a cold, dark winter and have a game plan for how you’ll exercise, whether you walk the stairs in your office building or take laps around the mall,” Dr. Anderson suggests.

If you’re going to be traveling, you should also take some time to plan accordingly. Be prepared, for instance, to treat hypoglycemic events with hard candy or glucose tablets.

Heading to the airport? It can be hard to find healthy food when you’re on the go, so pack some snacks and remember to take all your meds and supplies, like your blood glucose meter, on board with you.

Some people think having diabetes means certain foods are totally off-limits. Not true, says Dr. Anderson.

“There’s absolutely nothing that you can never eat,” he explains. “But you need to pay attention to how much of the ‘bad’ stuff you’re eating, and how often.”

So go ahead and treat yourself to some candied yams or a slice of pecan pie if that’s what you’re craving—just keep portions of high-carb foods small. Consider making fresh fruit, vegetables and lean protein the stars of your dinner plate, and starchy side dishes or desserts the minor accompaniments.

And pace yourself: “Eating slowly helps you figure out if you’re full,” Dr. Anderson says. Be selective, too. If those dinner rolls look ho-hum, take a pass.

It can also help to focus on how your condition could be affected later by the combination of foods you’re choosing now. Hint: If you’re going to dig into something carb-heavy, make sure you have some lean protein and fiber to go with it.

And if you take insulin before meals, remember to adjust your dose accordingly.

You probably know that soda, fruit punch and other sweet drinks can spike your blood sugar. But you should be wary about alcohol, too.

Yes, you can enjoy a drink or two, says Dr. Anderson, but understand that it might cause your blood sugar to rise and then crash hours later.

“Wine that you finished drinking at 10 P.M. might cause hypoglycemia at 2 A.M.,” he warns. So if you’re prone to lows, be sure to check your blood sugar before bedtime.

Dr. Anderson also advises against drinking without eating; a glass of wine with dinner is a better idea than one sipped sans food. Prefer cocktails? Aim to avoid ones made with soda or fruit juice.

You know who they are—the aunt who tries to force-feed you her famous cheesecake, or the mom who shows her love through her homemade macaroni and cheese.

Sure, they mean well, but friends and family may end up urging you to eat things that you’d be better off skipping.

Dr. Anderson’s advice: Take a bite of that casserole your grandmother is nagging you about, but just a bite. If a taste doesn’t appease her, it’s fair to remind her that it’s not good for your health to overdo it.

It’s Christmas day, fat snowflakes are falling—and the whole family is going cross-country skiing. Such fun!

If you’re prone to hypoglycemia, just be sure to carry a snack or glucose tabs with you. People with neuropathy (nerve damage) in their feet—a common condition among those who’ve had diabetes for a while—should take some extra precautions.

First, talk to your doctor to make sure it’s OK to exercise outdoors in the winter. When you do go out, wear comfortable, supportive shoes with a cushioned sole, along with warm socks. And remember to check your feet every day for any ulcers or foreign objects, like pebbles, that could cut into them and cause an infection.

“If you have mild neuropathy, you might not feel them, and it just takes 30 seconds to check,” Dr. Anderson adds.

You carefully planned out what you’d eat and what you wouldn’t during Christmas dinner—and still went way off-course. But don’t be too hard on yourself. For one thing, it can be counterproductive.

“Don’t say, ‘OK, I’ve blown it, so I might as well just keep going,’ ” Dr. Anderson says. “There’s nothing wrong with one big holiday meal, but try to make an extra effort to get back on track the next few days.”

To help yourself course correct, try hitting the gym each day, and eat plenty of veggies and lean protein.

They’re so inspiring to make ... and so easy to break. “Patients often come in with broad resolutions, like, ‘This year I’m going to be healthier,’ ” Dr. Anderson notes. “What does that mean, exactly?”

Instead, he suggests pinpointing some concrete tweaks you plan to make in the coming months. “If you can say, ‘I’ve made an appointment with an exercise physiologist, or on this date, my wife and I are going to throw out all the cookies,’ that’s better,” he says. Dr. Anderson also recommends thinking about how you’ll realistically be able to stick to a certain goal long-term. Can you honestly swear you’ll never eat sugar again? “New Year’s doesn’t last very long,” he points out. “What happens in March?”

Making doable changes—like vowing to try unsweetened coffee or saving bagel breakfasts for weekends, not every day—is the key to feeling great with diabetes through the holidays ... and long after.