Diabetes/low sugar/healthy eating - birthdays, Christmas and other cake occasions

[Nonplusultra]

I’m looking for suggestions as I have a season of traditionally sugary events coming up between several birthdays, Hallowe’en and Christmas.

Left to my own devices, I’d just decline dessert. But it’s harder with public pressure. Dd always makes my birthday cake and is at a loss, and I’m usually the person asked to make desserts for family occasions.

I’d rather avoid sweeteners for now.

I’m not actually diabetic but I have family history and some of the red flags like fatty liver. Whatever respect my family and friends might show a diagnosis, they have no truck with faddy diets. But the difference in my physical and mental health since cutting back on sugar is huge.

Curious to know how other people manage or navigate these things.

Following with interest

I would just eat a slice of the real special occasion ones like birthday cake made by your dd, avoid cake for the other occasions or bring your own low sugar treats and eat those.

if you are the one to make dessert then make 2 one normal, one healthier. I wouldn't do something with sweetener but if you make say a fruit salad that is mainly berries with a little cream. You might find other people who want a healthy option will go for that too

If you are not diabetic, the odd slice of cake won’t do you any harm, especially if it has buttercream filling which slows down the rate at which carbs enter your bloodstream. I do have to be very careful with carbs, so I have a day off once in a while - perhaps once a month - and go extra low carb the following day. I recently went out for afternoon tea to celebrate a relative’s birthday - bread, cakes, tea with sugar, the works. Blood sugar spiked a bit that day, but the rest of the month was well within healthy limits, so no harm done long term.

I have berries and cream or cheese . At a pinch will have a dark chocolate mousse as the fat decreases the spike .