Ms Kala Adaikan, Principal Dietitian, Department of Dieteticsopens in a new tab, Singapore General Hospital (SGH)opens in a new tab, a member of the SingHealthopens in a new tab group, provides the following tips on keeping diabetes under control during Chinese New Year:

1. Eat a healthy breakfast before starting your house visits

2. Your breakfast should include complex (starchy) carbohydrates packed with lots of fibreopens in a new tab (e.g. whole oats, multi-grain cereals, wholemeal bread), nuts and seeds. Starchy carbohydrates will release glucose into the blood stream at a slower rate compared to sugary foods.

3. Set a limit to the amount of festive goodies you can eat in a day

4. If you're unsure what limit you should set on the love letters and pineapple tarts, check with your doctor or your dietitian. Beware how easy the total carbohydrates consumed add up with every additional peanut cookie or kueh bangkit.

5. Skip the sugary canned drinks

6. Ask for tea, water or lemon water instead, or pick one with reduced sugar.

7. Spread out the carbohydrates throughout the day

8. Prevent sudden spikes in blood glucose levelsopens in a new tab by eating small, frequent meals.

9. Cut down on your portions

10. If you must have bak kwa and other new year goodies, have a bite-sized portion.

11. Snack on fruits, seeds and nuts

12. The complex (starchy) carbohydrates contained in fruits, seeds and nuts (e.g. sunflower seeds almonds, pumpkin seeds) will fill you up and make you less inclined to binge on the festive goodies.

13. Walk more

14. Exerciseopens in a new tab helps muscle cells to absorb blood glucose. So pick up your walking pace during the festive period. Walk 30 to 60 minutes every day.

Ref: I23

Check out other CNY-related health articles:

6 Auspicious and Healthy Foods for CNYopens in a new tab

Diabetes and CNY: What You Need to Knowopens in a new tab

Healthy Recipe: Rainbow Yu Shengopens in a new tab

Healthy Recipe: Assorted Fruits Yu Shengopens in a new tab

Tips for a Healthy Steamboatopens in a new tab

CNY Goodies Calorie Count: Know What You're Eatingopens in a new tab