Mother's Day is May 9th ~ Get Healthy for Your Family

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There are many reasons we'll be celebrating mothers on May 9th. Moms give selflessly, influence and inspire their children, and make the house a home. If you are a mother, don't forget to take a step back on Mother's Day and marvel at everything you do.

If you are managing yours, or your child's, diabetes on top of everything else, extra kudos to you!

Take Care of You

Running the kids around, taking care of the house, working, doing errands, cooking... a mom's day is full. It's beyond full, and most mothers are the menu planners and cooks in the household. Throw diabetes into the mix, and there is a whole other level of planning and consideration.

“Choosing healthy foods, preparing healthy meals, and getting to or staying at a healthy weight are the most important actions you can take to lower your risk for pre-diabetes and type 2,” says Hope Warshaw, RD, CDE and American Diabetes Association author. "They are also the best ways to manage type 2 diabetes."

This Mother's Day, renew your commitment to give your body what it needs to thrive. Become a role model for your children. If you haven't already done it, learn to choose good foods and cook healthfully, become familiar with what constitutes a portion, incorporate physical activity into your day.

Maybe you think this advice is like getting a vacuum cleaner for a gift. Moms want to be pampered on May 9th, not told to eat right and exercise. But, Mom... please eat right and exercise. Changing your lifestyle is the best way to ensure health for years to come.

Taking Care of Your Family

Parents of children with diabetes have a whole other set of responsibilities. Included in the hectic schedule is multiple insulin injections or filling a catheter on a pump every few days, carb counting, meal planning, doctors visits and always being prepared for an emergency.

In one blog entry, Leighann Calentine, a mother of a child with diabetes, says, "I am pretty thick-skinned when it comes to my daughter’s diabetes. I have to be. If I stopped to think about it–all of it–I would no doubt be a basket case."

If you are a mom to a child with diabetes (D-Mom for short), no doubt this sentiment is familiar. If you haven't already done so, bookmark the D-Mom Blog, Calentine's personal blog about her journey as a D-Mom. It includes everything a mom needs: advice, understanding, resources, recipes, snack ideas and a connection to other moms experiencing the same thing.

If you can get a little break on May 9th, slip away with a nice glass of tea and read this blog!

Gift Ideas for Mom

Dad and Kids, no need to make a brunch reservation on May 9th! Here are some alternative ways to pamper mom without the calories and carbs: