Complications arising from diabetes account for over half of the amputations in the United States each year, according to the Amputee Coalition. If you’ve been diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes, you know how important it is to maintain a healthy weight. Unfortunately, with the holidays coming up fast, you will be faced with social situations in which over-consumption of food is encouraged. Floyd Brace would like to offer some suggestions for the lean approach to Thanksgiving:

• Eat breakfast.

 

A light, healthy meal in the morning can help you with portion control, since you won’t arrive at dinner starving.

 

• Start the day with activity.

 

This may be difficult to squeeze in if you’re preparing all or part of the meal; however, getting up early and exercising before you indulge in your favorite dish can help you burn off those extra calories.

 

• Substitute some of the fattier ingredients with low-fat options.

Greek yogurt has a similar texture and taste to sour cream, but has significantly less fat and calories. Other ways you can cut back on fat is to halve the amount of butter a recipe calls for or use sugar alternatives.

• Exercise portion control.

 

Scan the table for which items you really want to eat, and which ones you’re okay with skipping. Don’t waste your calorie count on food you can have all year round—instead, identify your holiday favorites and have smaller portions of each.

 

• Don’t stuff yourself.

 

Instead of eating until you feel drowsy, stop when you feel satisfied. Most Thanksgiving dinner items are filling, so chances are it won’t take long for you to get to that point. One way to do this is to eat slowly and truly savor the taste of the food.

 

• Limit alcohol intake.

 

The calories in alcohol can add up fast, and inebriation can lead to more consumption of food. Enjoy a glass of water between alcoholic drinks so you can stay hydrated.

At Floyd Brace, we want you to be able to enjoy your time with friends and family without having to worry about damaging your health. We serve many lower-limb patients who live with diabetes, and can answer any questions you may have about wearing a prosthesis if you have diabetes.

Thanksgiving and Diabetes