Polyol dilemma

[Robin]

Oh dear! I unwrapped a present from a dear friend this morning. Sugar free Spanish Turron. I thought I'd trained everyone to avoid 'diabetic' chocolate, etc, obviously friend didn't think this counted, and no doubt put a great deal of thought into it. We all sampled some at lunch ( hope we form an orderly queue for the loo later) apart from the gastric effect, it was like eating plasticine with a nasty aftertaste. How can I tell her not to do it again without offending her? ( Actually, I've known her long enouh just to come straight out with it, but still...)

 

[KookyCat]

Oh heck, if you find out how to stop people doing it let me know. I have a lovely friend who keeps making me sugar free bakes, try as I might I can't dissuade her, I don't eat them I'm afraid (I don't do artificial sweetener tastes like acid to me) but then I feel bad because it's really sweet of her but such a waste. She's seen me eat normal food too, I think she thinks if there's no sugar I don't need insulin, but I'd actually have to inject for them and hate them....oh the guilt

 

[pav]

Had similar, a box of of sugar free chocolate, thought I had done the same of saying to everyone don't eat diabetic chocolate as has unwanted side effects.

 

[eggyg]

This was the first time in 6 Christmases I haven't received any chocolate from anyone! Think it's sunk in at last!

 

[AlisonM]

I've had similar gifts, fortunately from friends I could be honest with about the effects and they no longer do it. I did get a BIG tin of Cadbury's Roses this year, and will have one now and again but (they may last me all year!), on the whole, nobody gives me any kind of sweets these days.

 

[Caroline]

It is difficult to tell people special diabetic food is not always good food, especially when you know people have taken time and made an effort to find what they regard as the perfect present.

 

[Maryanne29]

Luckily no-one has bought me diabetic foods for many years but I have had several boxes of chocs. I share these and then bolus for those I eat. Generally works ok.

 

[Amberzak]

A distant relative who is type two made some 'diabetic' trifle. She used diabetic jelly and diabetic custard (which according to the packaging actually contains as much carbs as normal custard). She made it for me. Problem is, it contained gluten. She knows I'm coeliac. Makes me laugh. She thought about the diabetes (even though I can eat the normal food) but not the coeliacs (where I absolutely cannot eat gluten).

 

[Matt Cycle]

The advice from the BDA / Diabetes UK for at least 20 years has been to avoid these products and just have some normal chocolate, etc. They've always had the 'excessive consumption - laxative effects' warnings on (I remember my Mum bought me a diabetic chocolate bar when I was diagnosed then restricted it after reading the warning ). I think for Thorntons and the other companies who make them they're aimed at well meaning friends and relatives to buy for diabetics because you certainly won't get many diabetics buying them. I suppose there must be a big enough market otherwise they wouldn't make them.

 

[AlisonM]

I have a friend who has 'weight' issues which led to an eating disorder that had her eating these things, especially the chocolate, like it was going out of style. She damn near killed herself and did permanent damage to her insides.