POP QUIZ (Stay Healthy)

Have Yourself a Healthy Little Christmas

For the nearly 26 million Americans with diabetes, making the right choices at the holiday buffet is a serious matter.  As party season gets under way, test your knowledge with our short quiz.

1. You're attending a neighborhood pot-luck party.  Which hors d' oeuvre staple is your best bet?
a) A handful of nuts
b) Pigs in a blanket
c) Cheese and crackers

2. You're meeting friends for holiday cocktails.  Which beverage will least affect your blood glucose level?
a) Beer
b) Wine
c) A gin and tonic

3. Your office holiday party is tonight.  The best time to test your blood glucose is:
a) Before the party
b) After the party
c) Both


100 = Number of  calories the average American adult consumes each day from alcoholic beverages.
52,000 = Number of additional primary care doctors that will be needed in the U.S. by the year 2025.



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Answers : 1. (a)  If your main concern is glucose control, you need to watch out for carbohydrates, which can cause a big spike in blood sugar.  Nuts are relatively low in carbs and contain healthy fats and protein.  Cheese is your second-choice, but skip the high-carb accompaniments like crackers or jam.
2. (b) Though beer and tonic water may not taste particularly sweet, both are high in carbohydrates compared to dry (non-sweet) wines.  But before you indulge, it's important to talk to your doctor, since alchol and diabetes can be a dangerous mix.  Drinking can camflage the symptoms of low blood sugar, decrease your willpower to make smart food choices, and impair your liver's ability to regulate your blood glucose level.  So if you do drink, know your limit and stick to it.
3. (c) Yes, it's a pain to drag your glucometer to a party, but it's the only way to tell whether your blood glucose is in a safe range.  Try to test shortly before eating and again two hours afterward, says the American Diabetes Association.