Holidays Complicate Diabetes Management, Patients Report

The national, online Know Diabetes by Heart survey was conducted between Oct. 21 and Nov. 1, 2021, and included results from 1,079 U.S. adults ages 45 years and older who are living with type 2 diabetes.

According to the results of the survey, 49 percent of people with type 2 diabetes find managing their disease during a typical fall and winter holiday season to be more difficult than at other times of the year. Staying on track with health goals was the top holiday season concern among respondents (28 percent), followed by finances (15 percent) and safe gathering due to COVID-19 (14 percent). Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of participants reported having a lot or complete control over their dietary choices during a normal week, but just over half (52 percent) report having control during a holiday week.

"The holidays provide challenges to staying heart healthy for many people, but especially for those managing conditions closely tied to daily nutrition, like type 2 diabetes," Robert Eckel, M.D., immediate past president of medicine and science for the ADA and past president of the AHA, said in a statement. "Even if you don't have diabetes yourself, it's important to create healthy environments for our friends and family members who do."