Festivals and good food often go hand in hand. This is the same in the case of Ganesh Chaturthi. Almost everyone is excited about the festive delicacies, especially the all-time favourite Modak and other such sweets. It is difficult sometimes to avoid gorging on these sweets even if they want to, considering the festive environment with friends and family.

It is also important to take care of oneself and not get carried away. However, it is of much more importance to people with diabetes to take special care as resisting these delicacies can be sometimes difficult.

A few measures that could keep sugar levels in check include:

1. Sweets on an empty stomach will hit your blood sugar quickly. Try to have a balanced meal with plenty of protein and vegetables before jumping in to that sweet. It will help slow down the release of the sugar into your blood stream. ¹
2. It’s best to go for natural sweeteners: Modaks and Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations are synonymous with each other. Modaks are pretty healthy as they are steamed but you can make them healthier by substituting sugar with jaggery, dates or figs. This makes it iron-rich and provides you with wholesome energy.
3. Be sure to check your blood sugar both before and 2 hours after you reach for that yummy bite and share your blood sugar reading with your doctor to keep a check on your blood sugar level.
4. Observe a safe fast: A day before celebrating this festival, the women of the family observe a fast. As fasting has a direct effect on your blood sugar level, it is necessary to plan your fasting schedule in advance. Remember to check your blood sugar at regular intervals while fasting. This will help in reducing the risk of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
5. Controlling portion size and timing: One often tends to overeat during festivals considering all the tasty food. This could lead to certain health issues especially for people with diabetes. So, one must pay attention to what and how much they are eating. Simply, be conscious by consuming smaller portion sizes suggested by your doctor to keep your blood sugar in check.

Ref: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295901.html

This article is validated by dietitians Geeta Shenoy (BSc - Dietitics / Nutrition, Post Graduation Diploma in Dietetics, Registered Dietician /Nutritionist, Sports Nutritionist, 29 Years Experience), Previously Geeta Shenoy was associated with S. L. Raheja Hospital, All India Institute of Diabetes.
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