Halloween and T1D: not exactly a match made in heaven, is it? But, it doesn’t have to be a disaster either.
Halloween and T1D: earliest memory
My earliest memory of Halloween and type-1 diabetes was probably my first year with T1D; just a couple months after diagnosis.
It was the later half of the 1980s. I was a clown – a homemade costume stitched by my moms. My parents were still pretty frantic about this new condition of mine. It was the unknown – candy, at that time, was like the devil. But I was nine, all my friends were going trick or treating, I didn’t want to be deprived, and they didn’t want to deprive me.
So, I struck a deal.
“Let me go trick or treating,” I negotiated. “I won’t eat any of the candies,” I promised. “I’m gonna be a candypreneur” I assured them. My verbal plan was to create a business and sell the candy to my older siblings who had surpassed their trick or treating days.
My parents loved my ingenuity and entrepreneurial nature. They agreed – not realizing that my fingers were totally crossed behind my back.
Yes, I sold some of the candies, but I also stuffed a bunch into tiny makeshift holes I created in various stuffies. Those candies were mine – mwahahahahaa 😀
Yeah, needless to say, my blood sugars struggled for awhile as a kid
Carb counts to manage halloween and T1D
I definitely didn’t handle that situation the best. But again, it was the 1980s, and we didn’t know what we know now:
That we actually can have candies and can mostly manage with insulin, and activity if possible.
Below is a pic from JDRF (now Breakthrough T1D) on the carb counts for various Halloween treat size candies.
Keep in mind, carb counting is not precise and there is a margin of error with it. But these counts are a start.
For me, I try to pre-bolus about 10 minutes before the candy (which is inevitably a mini chocolate bar) and limit myself to one or two selections at most. If I have more, my blood sugars will almost always surge, but if I keep it to one or two, it’s usually manageable. And if my blood sugars do rise quicker than I want, I try to go for a brisk 10-minute walk.
These are my Halloween strategies. What are yours?
Katie’s Top-5 Halloween Favourites
Favourite candy: Butterfinger, Wunderbar and Oh Henry
Favourite costume: this year’s 😀 I’m going as Cookie Monster! Keep an eye on my social media feed for pics in the coming days – I may have a Cookie Monster friend joining me 😉
Favourite decoration: the colourful fall leaves with the warm autumn sun shining through
Biggest Halloween fear: jumping spiders
Favourite Halloween movie: Ghostbusters (it’s Halloween ish)
What’s your top-5 Halloween favourites?
Upcoming T1D Workshops
The next workshops in the Be The Best T1D You Can Be are focused on pregnancy:
- Nov. 10, 2025: Preparing for Pregnancy with T1D
- Nov. 24, 2025: Third Trimester and Beyond
The first workshop will explore a multitude of areas, including preparing the body and the blood sugars for pregnancy; managing blood sugars during the first and second trimester; what to expect for the T1D population when planning and throughout pregnancy; and strategies for managing the mental health aspect of having so many added voices included into the care of your T1D.
The second workshop will explore third trimester, labour and delivery, and postpartum. Both workshops are virtual, and will provide several resources including a sample meal plan, cheat sheet, and a template for a labour and delivery plan.
Email me for more information at info@katiebartel.ca or register at the following link: https://www.katiebartel.ca/be-the-best-t1d-you-can-be/