Best place to buy diabetic foods from ??

[whitbybabe]

My Mum is 70 and type 2 diabetic bordering on type 1. I am trying my best to re-educate her about her eating habits buts its hard when someone is that age. She eats all the wrong things and as I live 30 miles from her I am not there to see what shes eating day to day. I have picked up things like diabetic jam in the local shop, but wheres the best place to get all the diabetic foods ? Is it one of the large supermarkets, or is it somewhere on the internet ? I want to get her stocked up with the correct food where possible.

[boxtops]

Supermarket, most have a section of suitable foods for various conditions (the bigger supermarkets are better). On-line will probably be expensive as there will be carriage charges. Her practice nurse of GP should have given her a diet chart showing what she should be looking for.

[HowardKennitby]

Check large supermarkets, chemists(Boots etc), health food shops(Holland&Barrett etc). Most of these have web sites.

[starone]

There is no need to buy special foods for her. In fact some of them are sweetened with sorbitol which will give you a great deal of pain (and wind) in your abdomen if you eat too much of it. She just needs to cut out as much sugar as possible and that means no biscuits, cake or chocolate mostly. Always read the labels and if sugar comes first or even second do not buy. There are plenty of foods she can eat without making life a misery. And diabetic foods are very expensive! What is her blood sugar level like? Is she keeping control of it?

[whitbybabe]

Thanks boxtops, she was given advice when diagnosed about 8 years ago but is a very blase person if you know what I mean ! A hard nut to crack, she was born and brought up in Glasgow and moved to England in her late 20's, but is still as hard as ever. She's still my Mum though and I just want to do my best for her. Thank you.

[boxtops]

Boots is good too, or any local chemist. Big chains should be cheaper though, IMO

[whitbybabe]

Thanks to all for your help. When I gave her that jar of jam today she was made up bless her because she loves sweet things.

[Jemisa]

Keep away from diabetic food, most of it is a con.
I have been a diabetic for 30 years & one learns what is ok & what is not. Keep away from sweets & chocs, also anything containing sugar. Common sense comes in here but its very hard to change ones life at 70. The diabetic nurse at her doctors should help.

jem

[starone]

Do not, whatever you do buy Boots diabetic jellies. They are almost pure sorbitol and your mother will be doubled up with pain. Anyone who has had to cope with diabetes will tell you the same thing whitby, there is no need to buy expensive diabetic foods. Where is sqad when you need him? I'm sure he will agree with me.

[starone]

Well, there you are, jem is agreeing with me. The trouble with diabetes is that most diabetics seem to have a sweet tooth which makes it more difficult for them. My husband used to treat himself with two blocks of (ordinary not diabetic) chocolate every evening. It seemed to satisfy the urge to eat sweet things.

[Mamyalynne]

Totally agree Diabetic foods are an expensive and useless product.

[whitbybabe]

Gosh. I have had my eyes opened tonight ! So if diabetic foods are a con, can they control their diet purely through eating ordinary food, but the RIGHT

[starone]

Thanks for backing up jem and myself mamy, I had the feeling I wasn't getting through to whitby, since she was so pleased with her diabetic jam. Incidentally, I have a feeling Boots withdrew a lot of their diabetic foods, don't know if they have replaced them. Hope not, they are a complete waste of time.

[whitbybabe]

Got cut off there, was gonna say the RIGHT food

[Mamyalynne]

a few simple guidelines here but many more online

http://www.diabetes-c...rms/healthyeating.pdf

[starone]

Yes, whitby, of course they can. My husband was diagnosed aged 40 and lived with it until he died at 82. When you get used to checking for any sugar in foods it becomes a habit. There is nothing to it. Most foods are perfectly acceptable.Just keep away from sweets, chocolate, cakes etc. You can do other things. The diabetic association issue recipes. I used to make a lovely Christmas pudding which contained no sugar whatsoever and believe it or not, no fat. The fruit sweetened it. Mustn't eat too much, of course but at least it is a treat for Christmas.

[boxtops]

that's an eye-opener for me, too.

[whitbybabe]

Starbuckone please do not talk about me as though I was not there.Very patronising. I came on here for advice tonight not for you to score points.

[Mamyalynne]

Whitybabe, I am certain you have misunderstood something there, I am sure Starby was simply addressing you and definitely not patronising you.

[pastafreak]

Yes-she would be far better off eating good fresh unprocessed food. Just giving her diabetic jam keeps alive her cravings for sweet food.

There is a lot of information on diet-both low carb and traditional on here that may be of use.. http://www.diabetes.c...betes-forum/index.php

[starone]

Sorry whitby. I am very concerned about people with diabetes and I really did not mean to patronise you. Hope the posts will help you.