Treats at the office, holiday parties, dinner with the family – they all happen with great frequency during the holiday season, and all provide their unique temptations and challenges to our diet. But for people with diabetes, these challenges are even greater. These eight tips were written for people with diabetes in mind, but they are also helpful for those who don't have the disease but want to stay focused on healthy habits throughout the holidays.

Use these hands on survival tips to help you successfully navigate the holiday food binge:

1. Plan your menu in advance and determine how you can adjust it.
2. If you are attending a holiday gathering, bring a safety dish that you know you can eat guilt free.
3. Vegetable dishes are always one of your safest bets to avoid over consuming calories and raising your blood sugar.
4. Practice portion control. If you practice portion control, you can really eat whatever you want.
5. Carve out time for exercise. If you don’t build it into your schedule, it probably won’t happen.
6. Read nutrition labels and check for carbohydrate content before making new food purchases. 
7. Eat smaller portions of vegetables with higher carbohydrate content like peas, corn, potatoes and winter squash.
8. With most recipes, you can cut the sugar content in half without losing the flavor.