How to Make Dessert for a Diabetic

People instinctively want to restrict a diabetic's access to dessert. For those not accustomed to the condition, it is natural to consider sweets the enemy. Fortunately, diabetes does not have to mean developing a dessert-free lifestyle. It simply means choosing sensible treats that fit into a healthy lifestyle. A diabetic with the condition under good control and a dietitian approved eating plan is usually prepared for an after dinner treat. Diabetes educators and nutritionists incorporate treats into well balanced diets where they are unlikely to cause serious problems. When cooking dinner for a diabetic, it is a great idea to make dessert. It demonstrates an understanding of the disease and respect for the diabetic. Read on to learn how to make a dessert for a diabetic.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Diabetic cookbooks

Fruit and Toppings

1. Arrange chopped and sliced pieces of fresh fruit in a bowl. Choose a variety including bananas, apples, oranges or other fruit. Layer or arrange by color and texture for visual appeal. Serve in a chilled bowl or appetizer dish on ice.

2. Make whipped cream. Beat 1 tbsp. sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla extract into 8 oz. heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Serve in a chilled dish for topping.

3. Make caramel sauce. Microwave 4 oz. caramels with 2 oz. milk on high. Stop heating to stir every 15 seconds until smooth and creamy. Serve in a warm dish for dipping.

Make it Smaller or Safer

4. Browse diabetic cookbooks or magazines for carbohydrate conscious desserts. Diabetic-friendly publications are readily available in book stores and grocery aisles.

5. Visit recipe websites. Many offer nutrition information with each recipe. Some have links to healthy and diabetic friendly sections right on the front page.

6. Make traditional desserts and serve in smaller portions. Know that 500-calorie slices of chocolate cake are unhealthy for anyone. Offer treats in portions about half the usual size.

7. Offer water as the primary beverage. It is necessary for blood glucose management. Beverages with caffeine or sugar can contribute to blood sugar spikes.

Tips & Warnings

• Whenever possible, leave skin on fruits such as apples. The skin tends to contain more fiber than the pulp does, meaning the skin has a positive impact on blood sugar stability.
• Skip the artificial sweeteners. Some experts speculate that artificial sweeteners may actually have a negative impact on blood sugar. While study is needed on this topic, it is better to be safe than sorry.

[AbbyNormal]

on 4/23/2008 This certainly is NOT a dish for diabetics!