When the days get shorter and the leaves begin to turn, kids can almost taste the sweetness that's only a few weeks away: bags and bags of Halloween candy. But for kids with diabetes, even the ones dressed as Superman, candy can be kryptonite. Trying to completely eliminate Halloween candy is ghastly for any kid, but by incorporating a healthy Halloween plan early-on, your ghost or ghoul will be able to stay safe and enjoy the day.
Do Your Homework
If there are school activities, then it's best to prepare yourself, your child, teachers and nurses with carbohydrate counts for the varied serving sizes of popular candies and sweets. It is especially important to share this information with those who will be supervising any spooky celebrations. At a school party or on the trick-or-treating route, even the most considerate friend can make a mistake. Don't let teachers or other supervisors be tricked into thinking that a cookie or snack bar is a diabetes-friendly treat. Sugar-free usually means a higher carbohydrate count, which can make managing the day even more difficult.
Be Prepared
Trick-or-treating around your neighborhood can take longer than expected, and can take you far from home. Be sure that your child's costume is practical enough so they can carry their insulin and sugar tabs. It is always best that younger trick-or-treaters be supervised, but if your princess or pirate is venturing off on their own, then make sure they are aware of what is safe to eat and when to eat it. But, it's always best to not let any child eat any candy before you can inspect it.
Take an Inventory of the Bag
The most difficult time to be responsible about intake will likely be when kids get a look at their candy booty. Depending on your child's age, taking an inventory of the bag can be an educational opportunity. Dole out the candy piece by piece, assigning a carbohydrate count to each and discussing the nutritional facts. Extra candy can be saved for the coming weeks, and a number of organizations and business offer opportunities to trade your candy for other food or even toys! Halloween requires special attention for anyone with diabetes. But with proper planning and a great costume, there's no reason to miss out on the fun.
This list should help you get started in planning for the carbohydrates in some typical Halloween candy. Please note that some are listed by box or bag, others by individual candy. You should always check the labels before deciding what to eat.
| Candy Name | Carbs | Candy Name | Carbs | |
| Hershey Kiss | 3g each | Jelly Beans | 1g each | |
| Hershey Miniatures | 5g each | Juju fruits | 2g each | |
| Reece's Peanut Butter Cup | Gummy Bears | 4g each | ||
| mini | 4g each | Starburst | 4g each | |
| Regular | 14g each | Tootsie Rolls | 5g each | |
| Crunch (fun size) | 7g each | Jawbreakers | 5g each | |
| Twix (fun size) | 10g each | Smarties | 5g/roll | |
| Kit Kat | 10g/half | Jolly Rancher | 6g each | |
| Snickers (fun size) | 12g each | Dum Dum Lollipop | 6g each | |
| Mars (fun size) | 12g each | Bazooka Gum | 7g each | |
| 3 Musketeers (fun size) | 13g each | Chuckles | 10g each | |
| Milky Way (fun size) | 14g each | Tootsie Pop | 12g/pop | |
| Butterfinger (fun size) | 15g each | Lemonhead | 14g/10 pieces | |
| Goobers | 20g/1.4oz bag | Candy Corn | 18g/12 pieces | |
| Reece's Pieces | 24g/1.7oz bag | Cracker Jacks | 29g/1.25oz box | |
| Peanuts M&Ms | 30g/1.7oz bag | Twizzlers | 30g/1oz pack | |
| Fun Size | 13g/0.7oz bag | Good and Fruity | 35g/box | |
| Raisinetes | 33g/1.7oz bag | Junior Mints | 38g/1.6 oz box | |
| M&Ms | 34g/1.7oz bag | Skittles | 39g/1.5oz bag |
Table copied with permission from The Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center
