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Pharmacist Parveen is talking to a patient about her mother’s diabetes and whether she should buy her diabetic foods.

“I do worry about my mum, particularly with her diabetes. She’s really careful with her diet, which must be difficult for her because she has such a sweet tooth! I’ve seen special diabetic foods for sale, things like chocolate and jam, and wondered if they would be a good choice for her. What do you think?”

Answer

Lots of foods claim to be specially formulated for people with diabetes, and the fact that many of them are chocolate, sweets and biscuits means they are very tempting for those struggling to refrain from eating them in their ‘regular’ form. However, neither Diabetes UK nor the Food Standards Agency recommend diabetic foods. These products tend to contain sweeteners, such as sorbitol, maltitol or polyols, as a replacement for sugar and, while this reduces the calorie count, they still affect blood glucose levels. They are also often high in fat, more expensive than the ‘regular’ options and can have a laxative effect.

The bigger picture

Although eating habits (in terms of both food choice and timing) are important for people with diabetes, no food is banned. Instead, they should be following the dietary advice provided to everyone – namely have a diet that is healthy and balanced, low in sugar, salt and fat (particularly saturated fats), and includes plenty of fruit and vegetables. Moreover, choosing specially formulated diabetic foods does not encourage healthy eating habits and can be more damaging to health in the long run.

There is a misconception that people with diabetes should avoid sugar, but on an occasional basis, things such as cakes, biscuits and chocolate are fine as part of a balanced diet. High sugar products, such as fruit juice, should be limited because they can cause blood glucose levels to increase quickly, but people with diabetes who are prone to hypoglycaemic episodes are advised to carry a fast-acting carbohydrate (e.g. a glucose drink or some sweets). If used, these should be followed with a starchy carbohydrate (e.g. a sandwich made with wholemeal bread) as this will prevent a sudden drop in glucose levels after the initial spike provided by the glucose.

Extend your learning

• Does your pharmacy stock diabetic food products? What advice do you provide about them? Has that changed as a result of reading this scenario?
• You may be asked by people with diabetes about the best way to lose weight. What do you say? If you are unsure, the information at NHS Diet Advice for Diabetes may help
• How would you respond to questions from individuals with diabetes who wish to fast, either to lose weight or for religious or cultural reasons? The pages at Diabetes UK may prove useful if you are unsure.