From a podiatrist’s perspective, the scariest thing about Halloween isn’t witches, ghosts, and goblins. It’s not even the presence of Christmas decorations already displayed alongside ninja warrior costumes and black lipstick – although that is pretty scary! No – for podiatrists Heidi M. Christie, DPM and Chanda L. Day-Houts, DPM, some of the most frightening foot problems we see at our Montgomery County podiatry office come about as a result of diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious disease characterized by the body’s inability to produce insulin or to use insulin properly. Without enough insulin, blood sugar levels rise to dangerous levels, wreaking havoc throughout the body and eventually causing foot problems such as loss of feeling, lack of blood flow, and foot wounds that heal slowly or not at all.

Stick to the plan by planning ahead

Patients with diabetes: we know that you spend a lot of time and effort keeping your blood sugar under control to avoid or delay the onset of these kinds of foot problems. Halloween can be a particularly easy time to fall off your eating plan. There’s so much focus on candy. It’s piled up at the stores and in the office break room. If you’ve got kids, they bring it home in large quantities. There’s probably some in your pantry, waiting to treat kids on the big day.

Diabetics can indulge in some candy. But they’d be well-served to do some planning ahead so that October 31 isn’t a launching pad for continued bad eating. Here are some planning ideas:

• Lighten up on your carbohydrate intake during breakfast, lunch, and dinner so there’s room for a bit of candy.
• Only eat your favorites. Pick and choose carefully. Decide ahead of time which treats you’ll enjoy vs. which you might be eating just because they’re there.
• Choose sugar-free candy when possible.
• Buy candy you don’t like. The kids ringing your doorbell can take it all.
• Donate leftover candy to someone else.
• Put the emphasis on other aspects of Halloween. Enjoy activities that aren’t food-related such as dressing up, pumpkin-carving, or attending a carnival or school play.

Don’t allow one night to derail your efforts in fighting diabetes. Stick to the plan, which should include a yearly foot exam at Montgomery Foot Care Specialists. For excellent diabetic foot care in Montgomery, Alabama, call us at (334) 396-3886 or make an appointment online.