Halloween treats are hardly Paleo. One bite-sized candy bar can contain anywhere from 10 - 30g of carbohydrate. And it’s not fibrous carbs or safe starches; it’s usually sugar. Pop two or three of these and, you’re looking at potentially 2-6 more units of insulin injections to maintain blood glucose control, let alone the risks of inducing hypoglycemia. One comprehensive review showed that this may induce up to a two-fold increased risk for severe hypoglycemia.2 It has long been known that the best strategy for diabetics is carbohydrate restriction, especially restricting sugar intake, not increasing the insulin to counteract large sugar boluses. With symptoms ranging from tachycardia and sweating, to stupor and coma, hypoglycemia isn’t a laughing matter.1
Furthermore, one study even showed a 71% increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in younger diabetic patients, and a threefold increased risk of hypoglycemia.4 While trick-or-treating one day out of the year will not be the end-all, it’s not without risks. If you must have your Halloween treats, keep it to a minimum, and if you’re diabetic, monitor your blood glucose. Choose dark chocolate over pure sugar confections, which have a healthy dose of dietary fat to attenuate the spike in blood glucose.
Even in healthy individuals, a candy bar containing 45g of carbohydrate (mostly sugar) can spike blood glucose by up to 30 points.3
