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Original poster

Food gift ideas for someone with severe diabetes

17 replies

Pluvia · 07/12/2023 14:30

Relative in his 50s with learning difficulties, newly living on his own and on insulin (when he remembers) after being hospitalised with raging diabetes. He is already suffering quite major effects of the disease and may have to have a leg amputated in the coming year. For Christmas he's asked me if I would do him a Tesco food order. I've talked to him about what he likes to eat and chips, pizza, biscuits and chocolate desserts are high on his list.

Any thoughts for diabetes store cupboard staples that I could add to his unhealthy list of wants?

OP posts:
Iloveanicegarden · 07/12/2023 14:40

I would think some kind of alarm where reminders can be set for insulin injections would be good. Food wise go to the diabetes website for ideas. I am diabetic and on insulin, but type 2 so food ideas may be way out. Even diabetic chocolates should be eaten with caution as they can cause bowel problems.

HappyHamsters · 07/12/2023 14:45

Could you buy him Christmas lunch instead, crackers to eat, tins of nice soups, toiletries.

Mushroo · 07/12/2023 14:54

His wants are the opposite of what a diabetic should be eating.

If you want to get him something nice and xmassy but also diabetic friendly I’d go for a cheese selection, pates, charcuterie, fancy nuts. Anything low carb really!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Christmas Diabetes General health
Original poster
Pluvia · 07/12/2023 14:58

I looked for a dedicated Diabetes board on here but couldn't see one. Can you link to it? Or do you mean some other website?

I live 330 miles away from him and he'll be having his Christmas Day and Boxing Day food supplied by others. He's already been supplied with all kinds of equipment and reminders and he's still not taking his insulin regularly enough, apparently. It's not my responsibility, I barely knew him until his mum died recently and we had to sort him out somewhere new to live.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pluvia · 07/12/2023 15:00

Mushroo · 07/12/2023 14:54

His wants are the opposite of what a diabetic should be eating.

If you want to get him something nice and xmassy but also diabetic friendly I’d go for a cheese selection, pates, charcuterie, fancy nuts. Anything low carb really!

I think the nuts, the charcuterie and any fancy cheese would go in the bin. We're talking about someone with moderate learning difficulties who'd live off meat pizza and chocolate ice creamif he could (and possibly does).

OP posts:
CountryStore · 07/12/2023 15:10

If he's not able to reliably administer his own insulin, is there any chance of district nurses or carers being arranged to do this for him? He sounds very vulnerable in this area.
Does he have a social worker who could help arrange this for him?

PercyPhelps · 07/12/2023 15:16

What type of diabetes does he have? If he is type 1 then in theory he should be able to eat anything as long as he counts the carbs properly. Does he have a diabetic nurse for support?

Original poster
Pluvia · 07/12/2023 15:32

Thanks for the link. I tried looking, honest.

OP posts:
aswarmofmidges · 07/12/2023 15:35

PercyPhelps · 07/12/2023 15:16

What type of diabetes does he have? If he is type 1 then in theory he should be able to eat anything as long as he counts the carbs properly. Does he have a diabetic nurse for support?

As long as he counts carbs and takes his insulin you should say - which the op makes clear in the first post is the problem

Subscription to diabetes uk might be more helpful even if it's not what he asked for

TheStirrer · 07/12/2023 15:44

Unfortunately what he has asked for is not really suitable for a type 2 diabetic!
Although expensive, this website does nice low carb treats.
https://deliciouslyguiltfree.com/

You might want to look up other low carb / keto websites

Low Carb & Keto Gluten Free Bakery | Deliciously Guilt Free

Deliciously Guilt Free offer keto cakes, brownies and desserts specialising in delicious, healthy treats specially formulated to work with a ketogenic diet.

https://deliciouslyguiltfree.com/

Original poster
Pluvia · 07/12/2023 15:50

Thank you, perhaps I can choose some treats from there. Yes, I think I understand the basics of diabetes (I'm not diabetic myself) but every diabetic I've ever known has managed things differently. His learning difficulties include language processing problems and reading difficulties, so while I'm sure recommendations to websites etc are well-meant, they aren't appropriate. He's also living on benefits and has no money available for 'healthy' food even if he fancied it.

I've now posted on the Diabetes support thread.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pluvia · 07/12/2023 15:53

£17+pp for six mince pies! That's an eye-opener...

OP posts:
rumnraisinrocks · 07/12/2023 16:01

Keto/low carb products are v expensive unfortunately. The ingredients they use are MUCH more expensive than flour or sugar etc.

OzziePopPop · 07/12/2023 16:06

Diabetes UK is a fantastic information site and forum. They’ll likely be able to help 😀

DiabetesUKForums

its lovely you’re thinking of him like this 🎄🎄🎄

uncomfortablydumb53 · 07/12/2023 17:12

Does he have a diabetes nurse?
They could go through a diet plan with him
It's difficult to organise an online shop when his diet is making his health worse

Original poster
Pluvia · 07/12/2023 17:28

I'm sure lots of people have been through a diet plan with him but he's not necessarily going to understand and I think it's pretty clear he's not sticking to a healthy diet.

OP posts:
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