Guest post by Allison Foster - Living with Diabetes During the Holidays

Dear friends here is a wonderful article from Allison Foster on how to manage diabetes during the holidays. This post is very thought provoking and it does touch a nerve for me since I too have many family members with diabetes and seen them struggle in trying to avoid sweets during the festive seasons.  A big thanks to Allison for sending me such a useful article and also such a delicious sugar-free dessert recipe.

Living with Diabetes During the Holidays 

I would have to say that the holidays are the hardest. Amidst all the festivities and the wonderful holiday dishes and desserts it is sometimes difficult to resist. Moderation being the key to just about everything in life is the way to go but it also depends on the way you were raised. I was raised with a great-grandmother, a grandmother, and a mom who always had a dessert with every meal. After a meal it does not seem complete without something sweet, and I am not talking about fruit.

We have generations of wonderful cooks and the baked goods are out of this world. There is only one juvenile diabetic in the family but there are a couple people with diabetes 2. We have adapted our meals over the years to include sugar free desserts; my Mom makes a mean sugar free blueberry pie. We have also made two different versions of the same food, one for the diabetics and one for the rest. To complicate matters even more, my aunt, the one with juvenile diabetes is now also on kidney dialysis. This means no salt, very little meat and no sweets for her. We find ourselves almost preparing another meal all together just for her.

I have watched my aunt over the years in her struggle with diabetes. When I was very small I did not understand her and I thought that a being around her was a bit scary. Sometimes she would begin to talk and it did not make sense and then I would see the adults running around like crazy and giving her sugar water or orange juice because she was having a reaction. It seemed like every time the whole family got together this was the case. I did not understand it and frankly I felt anxious whenever she was around.

Needless to say, holidays are a difficult time for diabetics and the people around them. One of the reasons for this is that they are eating things that are out of their normal schedule. They also tend to get a lot more exposure to desserts and this can throw them off big time.

As far as the diabetics go they should watch what they eat during the holidays. That does not mean they can’t enjoy the same food as everyone else, but keeping a close tab on how much and what kinds of foods they eat is crucial. They should also test their blood sugar frequently to make sure it stays under control.

For the families of diabetics you should offer foods that are not high in sugars and carbohydrates. Try to stay away from pastas and sweets and lean more towards vegetables and protein. This may mean that you change how you cook, but because f the many sugar replacements they have nowadays it is not such a big deal.

Here is a tasty recipe for sugar free blueberry pie:

Sugar Free Blueberry Pie

Filling ingredients (double for deep dish pie):

1 package frozen blueberries (about 12 ounces)

¼ cup Splenda

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

¼ cup of flour (varies depending on desired thickness)

Dash of salt

Crust ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour (not sifted or shaken down)

2/3 cup of Crisco vegetable shortening

1 teaspoon of salt

5 tablespoons ice cold water

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix together the first three ingredients for the crust with your fingers until it forms into pea sized balls. Do not over mix or crush together. Once the balls form add the water a little at a time and mix until it forms a large ball. You may need a little more or a little less water depending on your flour and weather conditions. Divide the ball into two equal sized balls. Flour a flat surface well and roll out one ball until it is large enough to cover the pie tin. Press the bottom crust in firmly and trim the edges. Roll out the next ball for the top and then move on to the filling.

For the filling pour the frozen blueberries into a thick medium sized pot. Turn the heat on medium high and add the rest of the ingredients. You can omit the vinegar if you would like a sweeter pie, but I find it gives it a nice kick. Heat and stir until sugar substitute and flour dissolve. Do not boil. If you like your pie filling thick add up to ½ cup flour. If you prefer a thinner, more juicy pie filling add less flour. Once the filling is ready pour it into the prepared pie tin. Cover with the top crust and poke several holes in the top to allow for venting.

If you desire a browner crust you can brush on egg whites. Place pie in oven and bake until edges of crust turn golden brown, around 30 to 45 minutes. Serve with sugar free whipped topping if desired.

This recipe is just one of the many we have grown to love as a treat for the diabetics and non-diabetics in our family. There are many great opportunities to create sugar free or reduced sugar meals and desserts. Take a look around and see what great recipes and recipe ideas you can find to make your diabetic family members feel like you are really thinking about their needs.

Author Byline:

Blogging for was a natural progression for Allison once she graduated from college, as it allowed her to combine her two passions: writing and children. She has enjoyed furthering her writing career with www.nannyclassifieds.com . She can be in touch through e-mail allisonDOTnannyclassifiedsATgmail rest you know.