Diabetes-inspired Halloween Costumes

Halloween time for people with diabetes

If you’ve had your Halloween decorations up since the end of August, you’re not alone! My name is Lynda; I’m both a MiniMed Champion and Medtronic employee, and I happen to really love getting into the spooky spirit around this time of year.

While I’ve been living with type 1 diabetes for over 15 years, I realized that I have never worn a diabetes-themed costume before. I’ve been a football player, a princess from a major video game franchise, and even a friendship bracelet! Bringing diabetes awareness and relatability to Halloween might just be the perfect idea this year, so check out this fun list of diabetes-inspired costume ideas.
 

1.    Sir Frederick Banting and Dr. Charles Best

I couldn’t think of a better way to start this list than to go back to the basics: insulin.

Credited with the discovery of insulin, Banting and Best are icons in the diabetes world. This costume is a little niche, but with some name tags and the right props (like a vial of insulin, perhaps!) this costume can not only be iconic, but easy and cheap! You may have most of these items already and can even recycle them to be a doctor next year.

Bonus! It can be a couple’s costume too. Tell your significant other: “You’re the Banting to my Best.”
 

Tips for diabetes researcher costume assembly

This simple costume starts with a white button-down shirt, black tie, dark pants, and black dress shoes. Keep it neat and professional. Remember, this is a 1920s medical researcher look! Next, add a white lab coat. The key is to add name tags, otherwise you might just look like generic lab guys.
 

2.    Hypoglycemia zombie

Whether we like it or not, it is possible to get a little zombie-like when we’re feeling low. Instead of craving brains, perhaps it’s some juice, glucose tablets, or my personal favorite: gummy cluster candies. 

Hypo zombie is the personification of that feeling – the raid-the-pantry-for-the-Halloween-candy feeling, the I-can't-form-a-complete-sentence feeling, the give-it-to-me-nowwwww feeling.  
 

Tips for zombie costume assembly

For this costume, grab an old white shirt and rip parts of it — you can make it as shredded as you want!  The most important part of the look is the makeup. Start with white costume makeup all over your face to make it look pale. Then, add a little black under your eyes for that sunken look. Finally, add some red around your mouth and shirt because you just devoured a fruit punch to help treat your hypoglycemia (and since zombies can’t drink from a straw, it got all over you).
 

3.    CGM roller coaster

With all its ups, downs, and in-betweens, life with diabetes can really feel like a roller coaster. 

While we’re usually the only ones experiencing this ride, this costume gives people without diabetes some awareness into what a ride it can be each and every day!
 

Tips for roller coaster costume assembly

To make this costume, you’ll need foam boards, hot glue or heavy-duty tape, pool noodles, an extra pair of pants and shoes, and paint. From the foam board, you’ll cut one large piece for the back, two medium skinny pieces for the sides, two small pieces for the seat and footrest, and one medium piece that connect the seat and footrest. Assemble with hot glue and paint it any color you want! Next, cut a pool noodle and attach to the coaster seat for restraint bars.

To create the illusion that you’re sitting in the coaster seat, stuff the extra pair of pants with crumpled newspaper and attach to the coaster seat. Lastly, cut a hole in the seat for your real body to go through. And just like that, you’re riding the roller coaster of a CGM graph!
 

4.    “Invisible illness” ghost
 

Diabetes is often described as an invisible illness — a ghost, if you will. Something that haunts the person, but isn’t seen by others. 
This classic Halloween costume could also be a frighteningly simple way to bring diabetes awareness and education to parties! (Also, a good segway for National Diabetes Awareness Month in November.)
 

Tips for ghost costume assembly

Did you get invited to a last-minute Halloween party? No sweat! Can’t get any easier than a good ol’ sheet ghost! You can spell out “invisible illness” in a thick black marker to help people make the connection to diabetes.
 

5.    Low snack (candy or juice box)

We all have a favorite low snack! And Halloween is a great time to refill your stash of low snacks. Give a shout-out to your favorite juice box or candy with your costume. 

Bonus! You can look to the 15-15 rule to keep your costume factually accurate. 
 

Tips for juice box costume assembly

If you’re like me, you have dozens of delivery boxes you can upcycle into a costume. Grab your largest box and paint it to look like your favorite juice box. Next, cut holes for your arms and head. Finally, add a PVC pipe sticking out the top to look like a straw.
 

Happy Halloween!

I can’t wait to see how you bring these ideas to life this Halloween! Feel free to share your costumes with us on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @medtronicdiabetes!
 

Guest writer: Lynda, Medtronic employee and T1D