Holiday Health Guide: Managing Diabetes & High Blood Pressure During Christmas Season

The Filipino Christmas season famously starts in September and lasts into January. That means months of parties, reunions, Simbang Gabi treats, Noche Buena, and Media Noche. For people with diabetes or high blood pressure, these months are often when blood sugar and blood pressure readings creep up, and many first-of-the-year check-ups bring bad news. With a little planning, you can enjoy the season and still keep your health on track.

Why the Holidays Are Risky

• High-sodium dishes: ham, lechon, queso de bola, pancit, and processed meats raise blood pressure
• Sugary treats and drinks: leche flan, fruit salad with condensed milk, bibingka, puto bumbong, soft drinks
• More rice and second helpings at every gathering
• More alcohol, which affects both blood sugar and blood pressure
• Missed medication due to travel, late nights, and disrupted routines
• Less sleep and less exercise

Smart Eating at Parties

• Don't skip meals to "save room." Arriving very hungry leads to overeating, and skipping meals can cause low blood sugar if you take diabetes medication.
• Fill half your plate with vegetables first, then add protein, then a small serving of rice or pasta.
• Choose one dessert and enjoy a small portion instead of sampling everything.
• Go easy on sauces and dips, which are often loaded with salt and sugar.
• Drink water between other drinks. Choose unsweetened options when available.
• Limit alcohol. If you drink, do so with food and in moderation, and ask your doctor whether it's safe with your medications.

Simbang Gabi Tips

Nine dawn masses can mean nine mornings of puto bumbong and bibingka. Share a portion with family, alternate days, and pair a treat with salabat (ginger tea) instead of sweetened coffee or hot chocolate.

Keep Your Medication Routine

• Set phone alarms for medications, especially during late-night celebrations
• Bring extra medication when traveling to the province, in your carry-on bag
• Make sure your prescriptions won't run out during the holidays, when many clinics close
• If you use insulin, ask your doctor how to adjust for irregular meal times

Monitor More, Not Less

If you have a home blood pressure monitor or glucometer, check more often during the season, not less. Readings that stay high over several days are a signal to adjust your eating and contact your doctor.

Warning Signs That Need Urgent Care

• Blood pressure of 180/120 or higher, especially with chest pain, severe headache, shortness of breath, or vision changes
• Signs of stroke: face drooping, arm weakness, or slurred speech. See our stroke warning signs guide.
• Very high blood sugar with extreme thirst, frequent urination, confusion, or vomiting
• Low blood sugar symptoms: shakiness, sweating, confusion, or fainting

Go to the nearest emergency room if any of these occur.

Plan a Check-Up Before the Holidays

An October or November visit to your doctor lets you review your numbers, refill prescriptions, and get a plan for the season. Search MyDoktor.ph for internists, endocrinologists, and cardiologists near you. For more background, read our guides on diabetes and high blood pressure.