Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes
Episode #1668 Bolus 4 – Halloween
Date: October 31, 2025
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Jenny Smith, CDE
Overview
In this Halloween-themed episode, Scott Benner and diabetes educator Jenny Smith break down how to bolus for the top ten most popular Halloween candies. With personal anecdotes, humor, and practical advice, they demystify the nutritional content of each candy, discuss bolusing strategies for each type, and address how to enjoy Halloween with type 1 diabetes without fear. They emphasize smart approaches to treating lows, the impact of fat on sugar absorption, and the importance of movement during trick-or-treating.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Halloween Spirit and Family Traditions
- Jenny and Scott open with light-hearted banter about Halloween costumes and family decorations.
- Notable Quote (Jenny, 02:00): "We love Halloween. Our front yard is like... we've got skeletons with big swords through their bellies right now..."
- Scott shares he’s less into decorations this year, but Halloween candy is still front and center.
Bolusing for Popular Halloween Candies
1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
- Regular size: 24g carbs, 12g fat per pack.
- Fat content slows down sugar absorption, requiring a different approach than candies with only sugar.
- Pre-bolus advice:
- If BG is stable, bolus about 10 min before eating (06:22).
- Notable Quote (Jenny, 06:06): "This is going to definitely be slower... so still going to need somewhat of a pre bolus."
- Not for treating lows: The fat content means it won't work fast enough for hypoglycemia (06:56).
2. Peanut M&M’s
- 12 pieces: 17g carbs, 7g fat.
- Lower fat and carbs than Reese’s, but sugar coating means a faster spike.
- Pre-bolus: 15 minutes recommended (09:18).
- Memorable Moment (Jenny jokes about Scott not eating nuts, “Let me say this with a lot of pride. I’ve never had nuts in my mouth.” 10:27).
3. Snickers (Fun Size)
- 1 bar: 10g carbs, 4g fat. Combines nougat/caramel/peanuts, but less fat than Reese’s.
- Bolus strategy: Similar to Peanut M&Ms, 10-15 min pre-bolus.
- Insight (Jenny, 13:38): Eating candy while moving (trick-or-treating) often means kids won’t need to bolus, as their activity covers the sugar.
4. KitKat (4-piece pack)
- 28g carbs, 11g fat.
- Higher carb count than others; fat surprisingly high despite the wafer.
- Advice: Stretched-out sugar rise; pre-bolus as above, but watch for extended blood sugar impacts.
- Notable Observation (Jenny, 21:28): "That's the striking thing about this one is the fat content... I would never have guessed it to be that high.”
5. Hershey’s Bar (full size)
- 26g carbs, 13g fat.
- Comparable to Reese’s in macro profile.
- Personal story: Jenny's almond Hershey bar was her first "choose your own bolus" (23:55).
6. S’mores Components
- Marshmallows: 27g carbs (2 marshmallows)
- Graham crackers: 24g carbs (2 sheets)
- Hershey bar: 26g carbs (full bar; usually 1/3 for s’mores)
- Insight: Graham crackers and marshmallows are pure, quick-acting carbs — not ideal for sustained energy, but great for treating lows (25:18).
7. Skittles
- 27 pieces: 26g carbs, 21g sugar.
- Advice: “Big pre-bolus” required — acts fast, can be used to treat lows in a pinch (27:23).
8. Sour Patch Kids
- 1 small bag: 51g carbs, 44g sugar.
- Profile: Nearly all sugar – rapid absorption, not sustained (28:03).
9. Twix
- 1 bar: 15g carbs, 5g fat; package = 30g carbs, 10g fat.
- Advice: Similar bolusing to M&Ms; fat will delay absorption, but still a big sugar hit (30:42).
- Scott: “A Twix bar in the refrigerator is the way to go.” (29:12)
10. Starburst
- 6 pieces: 24g carbs, 16g sugar, 2.5g fat.
- Profile: Nearly pure sugar, fast-acting (32:37).
- Fun anecdote: Matching flavors as kids – and Scott still does (31:30).
11. Candy Corn
- 17 pieces: 27g carbs, no fat — basically pure sugar (34:41).
12. Smarties
- 1 roll: 6-7g carbs, no fat; main ingredient = dextrose.
- Jenny, 35:45: “They travel well in cars, do okay with heat — truly ideal for low treatments.”
Treating Lows: What Works and What Doesn’t
- Effective for lows: Skittles, Smarties, Sour Patch Kids, Candy Corn — because all are nearly pure sugar/dextrose with minimal fat or protein (37:48).
- Not effective: Chocolate, peanut butter cups, or high-fat candies (Reese’s, Snickers, KitKat). The fat content delays absorption, making them too slow for hypoglycemia rescue (06:56, 22:21).
Movement, Trick-or-Treating, and Bolusing
- Physical activity during Halloween often compensates for candy carbs; walking/running can offset need for insulin for some small treats (14:04).
- Jenny, 14:04: “You might be able to have your fun size Snickers... without any impact on blood sugar. And no bolus. Because you’re moving.”
Storing and Managing Halloween Candy
- Jenny weighs her kids’ candy bags after trick-or-treating; uses a "buyback" system to spread candy consumption over weeks/months (15:19).
- Various strategies:
- Parental portion control
- Saving high-sugar candies (Skittles, Twizzlers) for lows
- Donating, using in gingerbread houses, or freezing for later (16:57).
General Guidance & Empowerment
- Don’t fear Halloween: Focus on learning how different candies affect blood sugar, use activity to your advantage, and keep an eye on BG.
- Bolus by checking the carb content, account for fat/protein if present, and pre-bolus when possible.
- Scott, 40:24: "If you can get through this night without a bad low or a protracted high, I think have a good time. I don’t want to see it be 300 overnight..."
- Leverage modern tools/CMS for real-time adjustments (41:16).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Skittles:
- Scott (27:02): “I just think a skittle is a carb.”
- On treating lows with chocolate:
- Jenny (06:56): “It’s not going to hit your bloodstream fast enough... not what you would use [to treat a low].”
- On family Halloween strategies:
- Jenny (15:19): “She has a buyback program. She buys her candy back from her kids.”
- On making it through Halloween:
- Scott (40:24): “Have a good time... watch your blood sugar, and when it did something, we were like, ‘Hey, guess what it’s time for? You can reach into your bag and grab something now.’”
- On Smarties as a low treatment:
- Jenny (35:45): “...They travel well in cars. They do okay in hot cars, right?...They are just all sugar.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:41 – Setting up the real-time, Halloween morning theme
- 05:26 – Detailed analysis of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- 08:11 – Deep dive into M&Ms, nuts, and bolusing approaches
- 12:01 – Fun Size Snickers: carbs, fat, movement, and Halloween strategies
- 16:55 – Managing the post-Halloween "candy mountain"
- 21:02 – KitKat stats and fat surprise
- 23:11 – Hershey bar nostalgia and practical bolusing
- 24:51 – Calculating s’mores “damage”: marshmallows, Hershey’s, and graham crackers
- 27:01 – Skittles: fast carbs, prebolus, treating lows
- 28:03 – Sour Patch Kids: carb info and why they’re rocket fuel
- 29:12 – Favorite storage methods: Scott as a refrigerated candy person
- 35:28 – Smarties for low treatment and quick carb info
- 40:24 – General Halloween advice and message to newly diagnosed families
- 41:52 – Jenny’s personal story: first time looping on Halloween
Takeaways for Listeners
- Most Halloween candies can fit into life with type 1 diabetes, as long as you know the carb content, understand the influence of fat, pre-bolus appropriately, and leverage movement/activity.
- Pure sugar candies (Skittles, Smarties, Sour Patch Kids, Candy Corn) are best for treating lows due to their rapid absorption.
- High-fat candies (Reese’s, KitKat, Twix, Snickers) require a pre-bolus and will cause a slower and sometimes longer BG rise.
- Movement (walking/running while trick-or-treating) can often negate the need for covering small candies.
- Don’t let diabetes ruin the fun— Halloween is manageable with knowledge, planning, and the right tools.
Happy Halloween!
Scott and Jenny wish listeners a fun, safe, and well-managed holiday — with a big dose of humor and practical wisdom.