Diabetic Jam!

There’s a myth about diabetes that you can’t eat sugar. Like many myths, this has some basis, in that previously it was thought that sugar, and sugar alone, was the ‘cause’ of diabetes and was therefore some kind of poison as far as people with the condition were concerned. Now we know that this isn’t the case. True, it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet, and that means that we shouldn’t be continually stuffing ourselves with sweets and cakes – but that is true for non-diabetic people too. Sugar, like any carbohydrate, will affect blood glucose levels, causing them to rise. If combined with other food though, for example, by eating a piece of cake or ice cream after a main meal, the effect on the levels is reduced by slowing the conversion of the sugar to glucose in the blood.

Some companies produce so-called ‘diabetic’ food, in which the sugar content has been replaced by artificial sweeteners called ‘polyols’. OK, no sugar – but these foods still contain carbohydrate, so need to be considered when administering insulin doses, for example. Moreover, the polyols can have a rather unfortunate laxative side-effect in some people, which makes them unsuitable in any form of diet! Diabetes UK and most healthcare workers will recommend that you do not eat ‘diabetic’ products, as they have no nutritional benefits over ‘ordinary’ foodstuffs, and are generally considerably more expensive, so really it is about time that such things were removed from the shelves. A market for them probably only persists because well-meaning friends and relatives of people with diabetes buy them as ‘treats’, or uninformed or newly-diagnosed people with diabetes buy them thinking that the normal versions are taboo.

Ah! You’re diabetic? Well, don’t worry my dear,
We’ve got all sorts of goodies that are suitable here!
There’s diabetic chocolate and diabetic cake,
And diabetic jam – took me ages to make!

And diabetic sweets in all sorts of flavours –
For someone like you they’re heavenly saviours!
So don’t feel deprived, they’re especially for you!
I’ve heard sugar would kill you – is that really true?

Now you might find the sweeteners are rather emetic,
But you’ll just have to suffer since you’re diabetic…
I should also mention they cost twice the price
Of ordinary sweet stuff, but don’t taste as nice…

What’s that? You’re declining? Well how can that be?
But you can't eat normally, like people like me!
You can? Well, my goodness, I’ve learned something new!
My business is finished, and no thanks to you!

Come, dine with me!

It’s all about food of course. We need food as much as anyone else, but need to be aware how that food is going to affect our blood glucose levels. One of the biggest misconceptions about diabetes is that we can only eat a limited range of foods, or specialist ‘diabetic’ foods with artificial sweeteners to replace the real stuff. Not so at all! All we need to do is follow a healthy, balanced diet, which is actually no different to what most people would be advised to follow. Cakes and chocolate are allowed, but in moderation either as a treat or taken with a meal – that goes for alcohol too. All we need to do is be aware of how food and drink affects our levels and plan accordingly. My diet hasn’t changed dramatically since diagnosis – I guess it was pretty healthy before – but I have learned a lot more about how the body works and how to keep myself fit and healthy. A hundred years ago diabetes was a death sentence – a hugely restricted diet, leading to emaciation, malnutrition and a pitiful end. With modern knowledge, equipment and medication, I am probably healthier than many of my peers, and aim to remain that way!

Come, dine with me – drink wine with me!
Everything will be fine, you’ll see,
For though I have the dreaded ‘D’
I still take sugar in my tea!

I’m not averse to cake or sauce,
And I’ll eat chocolate mousse (if forced!)
Moderation is the key, of course,
Though sometimes I could eat a horse!

No polyols please, for they make
My nether regions gurgle and quake,
Much better, for my stomach’s sake –
A healthy wholemeal pasta bake!

Diabetes can be a curse,
But there are many things much worse…
I’ll follow the guidelines of my nurse –
Delay the day I’ll need that hearse!