What’s Not on My Christmas Wish List

Hello, December. The silly season is in full swing, and no doubt almost every place, business or shop window you can think of will be adopting somewhat of a festive theme. In anticipation of all of the newsletters, articles, social media posts, well meaning relatives and other diabetes interactions that I’m likely to encounter over the coming weeks, I can already tell you what’s not on my Christmas wish list this year. Or any other year, for that matter.

I don’t need to be reminded that I have diabetes at this time of the year. That’s pretty much a fact that isn’t going to change until the cure arrives in another five years time. I do diabetes every other day of the year on my own through rain, hail and shine, so I hardly think that Christmas is worthy of any extra attention.

I don’t want to see any ‘helpful’ and highly unsolicited advice on how to manage my diabetes over the Christmas season, no matter how well intended it is. I don’t need suggestions of what I should and shouldn’t be eating throughout the festive season, or advice on how to keep my blood sugars in tow. If I require some assistance in that department, I’m more than capable of asking. Otherwise, please treat me like any other guest.

I don’t need to be shamed for any of the food choices that I may choose to indulge in on Christmas Day (or any other day of the year, for that matter). Please, resist the temptation to ask a person with diabetes how they manage their blood sugars at the dinner table. Rather, an acknowledgement that I do this on the other 364 nights of the year that I’m not eating dinner at your house would go a long, long way.

I don’t need insinuations that just because I tuck into the likes of chocolate, pavlova or potatoes, I’m not taking care of myself. I take a great deal of care in managing my diabetes year round, and to be honest I’m damn proud of those efforts. I refuse to be made to feel that guilty for numbers that may fall outside of my target range during a time where I just want to be Merry. Nor do I need to explain! Besides, what makes you think that a slice of pavlova is any less healthy for me than it is for you?

I really don’t care how the likes of diabetes organisations, diabetes websites, healthcare professionals, other people with diabetes, or support people for that matter, feel that I should be managing my diabetes over the festive season.

The way I choose to manage my diabetes is, quite frankly, nobody’s business but mine.

At the end of a long year, I look forward to Christmas and the ability to wind down after a long year and spend some quality time with my loved ones.

Diabetes is most definitely not the focus of that.

Hot Cross Buns (and Insulin)

For the better part of the last two weeks, my morning tea each day has been hot cross buns. I am absolutely addicted to the Cadbury Choc Chip hot cross buns from Woolworths, and have already made my way through the packet I stashed in my freezer. I’ve since moved onto a second pack of regular fruit buns, which I have enjoyed lightly toasted and slathered in butter.

Let’s be honest, hot cross buns aren’t exactly the most blood sugar friendly food to conquer. They have a pretty rapid effect on my blood sugar levels. I’ll need to give my rapid acting insulin dose at least 20 minutes before tucking in if I want to avoid a massive spike in my blood sugar levels. If my starting blood sugar level isn’t in range, than I know that I don’t stand a chance against the carbs. Even with that prebolus, I can probably expect my blood sugar to peak at 9 or 10mmol.

With Easter fast approaching, I’ve already seen a fair bit of commentary on social media about what people with diabetes should and shouldn’t be eating this weekend.

I feel the need to write this because I am not ashamed of what I am choosing to eat. I refuse to believe that I am a ‘reckless,’ ‘careless’ or ‘non compliant’ person who will live to see the consequences because I am not following a ‘diabetic friendly’ diet.

My game plan for the next couple of days includes coffee, chocolate, hot cross buns and a few nice family dinners. I am more than comfortable covering my carbs with insulin, and pre bolusing where needed. That’s all that really matters to me.


To be completely honest, I really couldn’t care less what a diabetes organisation, or anyone else for that matter, thinks that I should be eating over Easter.

You do you.

Have a happy and safe Easter long weekend.