Desserts for diabetics

[ConcernedAuntie]

I have a friend calling in for lunch in a couple of weeks. She is diabetic and I would like to offer a nice dessert that isn't fruit salad. Can anyone give me some recipe ideas please? Even better, are there any ready made dessert out there. I have looked online but can't see anything.

TIA

What type of diabetes does she have? If she has type one she can just bolus for a ‘normal’ dessert, although taking note of the nutritional information (total carbohydrate, rather than just sugar) might be helpful when she’s calculating her bolus.

Cheesecake? I know that’s my diabetic MIL’s go to dessert at Christmas 😁

As a type 1 diabetic I will have whatever desert you want to make, I don’t need anything special/low sugar/no sugar. Most diabetics will have been taught how to carb count and know about their insulin/carb ratio and can adjust their insulin dose accordingly.

Anything like diabetic chocolate is full of sweeteners that give you the shits and tastes like shit so it’s not worth spending the money on.

My go to is blackberries, sprinkled with a little splenda and a big splodge of whipped cream.

You should ask her. I'm type one and eat low carb so wouldn't go near a pudding unless you'd made a low carb version of something (which I would be very grateful for).

@mikeyboo

What type of diabetes does she have? If she has type one she can just bolus for a ‘normal’ dessert, although taking note of the nutritional information (total carbohydrate, rather than just sugar) might be helpful when she’s calculating her bolus.

Sorry, don't know which type. Only know that on the couple of occasions I have eaten out with her she has said there were no desserts apart from fruit that she said she could eat. Just wanted to offer her something different.

@WreckTangled

You should ask her. I'm type one and eat low carb so wouldn't go near a pudding unless you'd made a low carb version of something (which I would be very grateful for).

What would be your favourite thing to have?

@flameycakes

My go to is blackberries, sprinkled with a little splenda and a big splodge of whipped cream.

I would love that but I'm trying to offer something other than fruit.

Ganache pots can be be relatively low carbohydrate - 50% double cream and 50% good quality (and therefore inherently lower in sugar) dark chocolate melted together and allowed to set in small ramekins.

It’s very rich so you only want a small portion which also limits the sugar. It’s worth noting, whatever you make or buy, that ‘natural’ sugar (from fruit or honey etc.) is still just sugar and should be considered as such.

Type 1 or Type 2 is really crucial.

My DM is Type 2 and there isn't really a 'diabetic dessert' for her. She takes her diabetes very seriously (managed to get back from meds to diet control) and has basically given up on dessert.

She tried a small piece of cake once as a treat and her sugars went up to 18 so in her eyes that was that.

Her friends with Type 2 though all think she is crazy, eat cake like it is going out of fashion and are on multiple medications.

I'd respect your friend's choices about her health as if you make something different she may not want to make you feel awkward by saying no.

If she's type 1 she can eat whatever everyone else does?

Something like this cheesecake I don't like erythritol so I would use xylitol (can get in any supermarket and use ground almonds rather than almond flour, practically the same thing).

My husbands type 1 and he ate 10 boxes of mince pies over Christmas and he’s still alive (somehow).

It really depends on what type.
My DC, type 1, eats exactly the same as us. As long as they calculate their carbs to insulin ratio they should be fine

If she is saying she can only have a fruit salad, it doesn't sound like she is Type 1 though.

I reckon she's type two as well.

@SheABitSpicyToday, ds racked up a similar mince pie count too last Christmas. At clinic they even asked what was the 28g item that featured so heavily on his insulin pump upload.

OP avoid any diabetic labelled shit. Keep any packaging to hand to avoid guessing or rummaging through bins.

If she’s a dietary controlled type two desserts are going to be a real struggle, particularly if you want to buy one. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is a cheesecake (as mentioned by a pp) made with sweetener and no base or a nut base, but you’d have to make that yourself.

Alternatively you could have a cheese course (although you’d have to be mindful of the carbohydrate in crackers/chutney), although if she can manage fruit salad you could consider cheese and grapes.

Weird that she is saying fruit salad is OK, a bowl of fruit has more sugar than a lot of desserts! As a type 1 I limit my fruit intake because I can't match the GI to my insulin action time but I'm fine with something with a bit of flour or fat in it.

You'd need to now if she is type 1 or type 2 for anyone to offer advice OP. They're really not the same disease. Has she had it since she was young or was she diagnosed later in life?

Or sugar free jelly and cream

What about offering a couple of interesting cheeses with grapes and a small green salad instead of pudding? Still a treat, but no sugar worries.
PS not that I know anything about the correct diet for a diabetic person.

www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/recipes/recipe-search-results?meals_courses%5B0%5D=32

Anything here?

I'm not diabetic but stumbled across this site last week looking for a recipe for lamb steaks - it was delicious by the way...

I use some recipes from this site and they're not bad.

www.diabetes.org.uk/search?q=Dessert+recipes&op=Search+Diabetes+UK#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=Dessert%20recipes&gsc.page=1

Sugar free jelly with summer fruits in it.

I’m type 2 I usually have sugar free jelly & double cream if I want something sweet.
I do occasionally have a small slice of cake or cheesecake.