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Celebrating the Chinese New Year would never be complete without the food that will be strewn across families’ dining tables. But in the midst of all the partying and festivities, too much eating can be dangerous for patients with diabetes mellitus and insulin level problems.

Even those who are just experiencing the early symptoms of diabetes are not exempted from the dangers of overeating. Annual occasions such as the Chinese New Year always involve gigantic portions of food which can leave unhealthy levels of fat and cholesterol in your body.

It is difficult to watch what you eat when you’re too busy enjoying what this festivity has to offer. But it helps to consult with your nutritionist so you would be guided on how your diet should go. Here are some ways on how you can still ring in the Chinese New Year with a bang while keeping track of your overall health.

1. Lessen Your Intake of Sweets

It is hard to resist temptation when you have all sorts and flavors of tikoy (glutinous rice cake) and desserts in front of you or when that big bowl of artificial fruit juice just looks really enticing. But having enormous servings of these foods and drinks can dramatically throw your blood sugar levels out of control.

It is advisable to reduce your consumption of starchy and carbohydrate-rich food like rice, white bread, and noodles. As for the drinks, have water, tea or lemon water instead of a glass of punch or fruit juice.

2. Have A Light Snack Beforehand

If you are going to someone else’s house to celebrate the Chinese New Year, do not go with an empty stomach. Eat a light meal or have a light snack like nuts and seeds before heading out. This way, you won’t feel too hungry and would not consume that much food when you feast out.

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3. Munch on Fruits and Vegetables

The Chinese New Year is an event bursting with traditions aiming to celebrate the fullness and abundance of life. The Chinese firmly believe in luck and lettuce, spring onions, and mandarin oranges are considered to be bringers of it. Take advantage of this and put more of these fruit and vegetables on your plate! Your glucometer would be very happy to display a normal blood sugar count for you.

4. Eat Slowly

One way to decrease your food intake is to eat slower with your non-dominant hand so you won’t overeat. You may also opt to eat on a smaller plate if there is one available — this will give you the illusion of a bigger serving even if you only put a small handful of food on it. Big plates would only encourage you to get more servings of food that are beyond what you can actually take in.

5. Drink Lots of Water

Chugging down plenty of water before eating makes your stomach feel fuller, curbing your appetite. Also, it helps you stay hydrated in between meals while flushing the harmful toxins out of your body. Water is undeniably good and refreshing for diabetics while sodas and alcoholic drinks are not.

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6. Avoid Fatty Foods

Munching on deep-fried food could spell trouble for your diabetic condition. It would also make matters worse for you and aggravate the symptoms of diabetes that you are experiencing. A diet with less fat and sugar would be most ideal especially for pregnant women who are prone to gestational diabetes.

7. Always Think Long-Term

Eating lots of your favorite foods while celebrating the Chinese New Year would make you happy at the moment, but what about tomorrow? Or the month after that?

Neglecting your diet may have adverse effects on your condition as a diabetic. This might also result to complications such as diabetic neuropathy and irreparable damages to your body over time. Prevention will always be better than cure so it will be best to keep track of your health in the little activities that you do.

Having diabetes is not easy, especially when it comes to altering the lifestyle that you’re accustomed to. Celebrations like the Chinese New Year could have been one of the occasions when you could wine and dine to your heart’s content. However, keep in mind that it will be more difficult to deal with diabetes if you will not make the necessary adjustments to improve your health.

All of the tips we’ve given above may be a lot to take in at first, but just remember this one crucial word — moderation. Keep everything balanced and have an active lifestyle and you’re sure to enjoy the Chinese New Year without having to worry much about your diabetes!