5 Ways the Holidays Are Hard on Those With a Chronic Disease (and 10 Ways to Cope)

Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a chronic, mostly invisible, autoimmune disease. I utilize an insulin pump, a glucose meter and a continuous glucose monitor to help me control my blood sugar and its effects on me. My blood sugar regulation thrives on predictability and routine, something that is the exact opposite of the holiday season. Though I love Christmas and Thanksgiving as much as many, my disease can make the holidays less enjoyable and more anxiety-ridden. In honor of National Diabetes Month (November), here are five ways in which those of us with a chronic disease might struggle during the holidays: 1: Food: Food is at the heart of nearly all holiday celebrations, and usually steaming mounds of not-so-healthy foods like sugary sweet potatoes. Desserts and sweet drinks are in abundance. For a person with a chronic disease, the variety of foods may be tempting or forbidden, or may just strike terror in our hearts or feelings of being othered. If you're staying in a hotel, you might be relegated to eating the in-house free breakfast that doesn't accommodate your diet. 2: Traveling: Sitting in a car or on a plane for long periods of time can be the breeding ground for physical pain or, at minimum, provide ample time to worry about one's disease. Traveling also means a change of routine and a lot of unpredictability and extra stress. For example, flying means I have to go through security at the airport, go through a pat-down while the rest of ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news