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DIABETES SHOULDN'T TAKE THE JOY OUT OF
THE HOLIDAY SEASON
University of Virginia's Diabetes Community Network Offers Patient Support Services

Celebrations around the holidays tempt all party-goers to disregard healthy habits, but calorie-laden festivities pose a special challenge for the millions of Americans living with diabetes. Usually managed by diet, exercise and medication, diabetes can get out of control when portion sizes grow and careful food selection is abandoned.

With the focus on food, increased stress and time pressures that take away from exercise, people with diabetes may feel they are negotiating land mines throughout the holiday season, said Dr. Eugene Barrett, an endocrinologist and director of U.Va.'s Diabetes Center. But people with diabetes should already be following a program developed in conjunction with their health care provider. If this is the case, and their blood sugar is under control, there can be room for small indulgences during the holidays, but moderation is key.

When Berma Stahl was diagnosed with diabetes a year and a half ago, she thought she would never be able to enjoy the holidays again. She loved all the traditional holiday foods and assumed many of those would be off limits. Rather than feeling helpless, Stahl, a 50-year old Charlottesville native, decided she would learn as much as she could about staying healthy and managing diabetes.

I decided I was going to control my diabetes and not the other way around, she explained.

Stahl visited University of Virginia's Diabetes Community Network (DCN) for a consultation with a diabetes educator. She has continued to access the services of DCN and now knows how to enjoy the holiday season while keeping her blood sugar in check.

The Diabetes Community Network was designed in accordance with the American Diabetes Association clinical practice recommendations. Its purpose is to increase access to education, reduce medical costs and prevent complications for people with diabetes. Initially, each participant meets with a diabetes educator to learn the basics of the program, receives a baseline assessment and sets personal goals.

A popular DCN program is the eight-week Diabetes Community Seminar series given four times each year. The seminars are offered in Charlottesville and Orange but are also accessible by videoconference at other sites. Topics covered include nutrition, exercise, stress-reduction and grocery shopping.

Because diabetes is a chronic illness, it requires continual management. At the Diabetes Community Network, we provide a range of services that help people with the disease cope year round, including during the holidays and other stressful times, said Cindi Thomas, a nurse and founder and manager of DCN. Through our three offices, Northridge, Orange and U.Va. Primary Care Center, and our work with the Office of Telemedicine, people with diabetes in most of the state can access our services.

The Diabetes Community Network recommends the following tips for staying healthy during the holidays:

  • Plan each day and each meal before it begins.

  • Avoid large amounts of concentrated carbohydrates. Fill your plate with turkey and vegetables taking a limited quantity of mashed potatoes, rolls and dessert.

  • Reduce the amount eaten at other meals that day, but do not skip a meal in anticipation of eating large quantities at the holiday meal.

  • Be aware of the amount of alcohol you are consuming as too much can alter blood sugar levels.

  • Continue to follow a regular exercise program. If there isn't an hour to spare, try 10- or 15- brisk walks at intervals throughout the day.

  • If are going to a friend or relative's house for the holidays, offer to bring a dessert made with sugar substitute.

  • To limit stress, set realistic expectations about the holidays, and don't let one slip up lead to complete neglect of your regular program.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. It is a metabolic disorder that affects the way the body uses and stores glucose or blood sugar. Symptoms may include extreme thirst, frequent urination, occasional blurry vision, unexplained weight loss and fatigue.

For more information on diabetes management or U.Va.'s Diabetes Community Network, contact (800) 251-3627.

December 13, 1999