Halloween and Diabetes - A Trick or a Treat?

'Halloween is coming and the goose is getting fat;
Please put a penny in the old mans hat,
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'peeny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny,
then God bless you'

The old rhyme that used to get me sweets (candy's for American readers) when I went out round the neighbours on Halloween night - never heard it?  Maybe not, these days its more Trick or Treat.

Is Halloween a Trick or Treat for people with diabetes? For me being diagnosed at 16 meant I had already fully enjoyed the dressing up and knocking on neighbours doors weighed down with nuts, clementines, money and sweets..lets not forget the sweets...! But there are so many children with Type 1 who will do something similar, but won;t be able to do it carefree.

And...do parents struggle with the idea of their wee ones with diabetes heading out on Halloween night and getting gifts of sweets? Ok, we know that we can bolus for sweets, but Halloween night seems to be an explosion of sweetness, including the one thing I haven't had since I was diagnosed and still look at fondly now, toffee apples, i know I could carb count, but that's the fun in just trying a toffee apple gone.

Does Halloween mean a loss of fun for People with Diabetes? I hope not, but it does come with difficulties.

If you are a Type 2, do you buy things in to give the children who will call at your door, but do you buy too much and then the temptation is there in the next few nights to gorge? Or maybe you only give money now, rather than encourage wee ones to grow up with a sweet tooth and maybe a combination of that sweet tooth and a lack of exercise will lead to an eventual Type 2 diagnosis for that happy-go-luck trick or treater.

And lets not forget the excitement that comes with Halloween - the parties, the fireworks, the dressing up - stress and excitement have an impact on blood sugars, and if you're dressing up and happen to have a pump, you have to get a costume that accommodates that, or just sod it, wear it on a clip and let it look out of place? Were do you put your blood sugar meter, what about the emergency hypo supplies...well its Halloween, hopefully there should be plenty of hypo supplies about!

Halloween is for me the start of winter, longer nights, warm fires and staying in..whatever you're doing have a safe one..and enjoy!