Halloween is a magical time — costumes, candy, and laughter everywhere. But for families managing diabetes, trick-or-treating can also feel like racing a sugar-fueled roller coaster blindfolded. Whether you’re navigating the night with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or supporting a child who is, here are a few diabetes-friendly Halloween tips to help you survive (and maybe even enjoy) the chaos.
1. Start Out Strong
Don’t fall for the classic “We don’t need dinner” trick. This is just Basic Haloloween 1-on-1. Kids may want to skip eating before trick-or-treating, but a solid meal helps steady blood sugar and prevents the dreaded hangry-zombie transformation. Halloween is fun — hypoglycemia is not.
2. Test, Treat, Repeat
Blood sugar can drop faster than a witch on a broomstick. Instead of staring at the CGM all night, set alarms at intervals you’re comfortable with. Every 5 minutes is too much; 10–20 minutes works for most families. A quick glance at each alert keeps you from turning you into a full-time glucose zombie.
3. Start and Store Smart Snacks
Quick-acting candy like Skittles or Life Savers are, well… lifesavers. Grab a few from your own candy bowl before you head out, and don’t be shy about pulling from your child’s bag as you walk.
Bonus Tip: When it comes to treating lows, chocolate isn’t usually ideal… but when racing around the streets with a pillowcase full of candy? It works. Milky Way, Snickers, or Peanut Butter Cups are great options. The fat content in nougat, caramel, or peanut butter can slow digestion slightly, giving your CGM a moment to say “thank you.”
And if they’re not paying attention? Go ahead and take a couple of pieces for yourself. You deserve hazard pay in chocolate.
4. Become a Vampire Who Counts
Carbohydrate counts are available everywhere, so there’s no reason to bolus without knowing. You could download a carb-counting app to your phone. Or you could find lists available from some major nonprofits, like Children With Diabetes or Breakthrough T1D.
5. Costume Meets Convenience
If you’re dressing up, choose a costume with pockets big enough for diabetes supplies. Nothing says “Halloween chic” like a prisoner costume with a hidden stash of gummy bears. Functional and fashionable.
6. Plan Your Route
Shorter loops close to home work best for diabetes management. Avoid long stretches without snacks, a bathroom break, or a quiet moment to check numbers. Besides, nobody wants Mario to be… leaky.
7. Tech Is Your Trick-or-Treat Sidekick
“Find My iPhone” is your best friend when kids disappear into the night like sugar-powered ninjas. Even with a reliable CGM, always bring a meter as backup, as sensors fail at the most inconvenient times. And yes: pack alcohol pads. There will be no sugar-free hands this evening.
If your child wears a pump, make sure it is in Activity/Exercise mode, as this will raise the target blood sugar for automatic boluses. And make sure you take it out of activity mode, if that is what you want. But consider having them sleep in activity mode; a slightly higher target might be a good idea in this situation.
8. Embrace the Chaos
Candy will spill. Costumes will malfunction. Blood sugars will bounce around. That’s okay. A diabetes-friendly Halloween doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be safe, flexible, and filled with laughter. And maybe let one rogue peanut butter cup slide.
Pro Tip:
Set a bedtime for candy sorting and a final CGM check. You’ll protect your energy, your sanity, and maybe even snag a piece of chocolate for yourself (for “research purposes,” of course).
May your night be filled with costumes, chaos, and safely sweet treats.