I’m visiting an aunt who is like a second mom to me. I always bring her something when I visit, usually of the chocolate variety as she doesn’t drink.
She was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I don’t know anyone else who has it and she’s my first family member to be diagnosed, so I’m unsure what to get her while visiting on Saturday.
I’d love some advice as I don’t want to get her something she can’t eat!
Edit; Thank you for all the helpful replies! I think I will stay away from food and instead get her cosy socks and a cute potted plant 🥰
Comments
Get her a bouquet of flowers. She can’t eat those either, but I’m sure she’ll love them. 🙂 I’m a diabetic, and my diet is very restricted. I prefer to not receive food as gifts.
A book or magazine, flowers, candle. Stay away from foods.
Diabetic socks are actually a really thoughtful gift
You can get really neat patterns and colors in diabetic socks. Maybe a pretty plant, a nice water bottle, slippers.
I sometimes give my diabetic gym buddy sugar free chocolates. My local bakery sells those.
Sugar free still has imitation sugar that can effect their issue.
An edible bouquet of fruit would be ok, fruit is ok in moderation. 🍉
I have also given my diabetic friend tea powder.
Many fine chocolate companies/stores in the US now have sugar-free varieties.
See’s Candies, for example, has online sales, as well as brick/mortar stores. They are very good candies & have multiple varieties of sugar-free chocolates.
Sparkling water! Hot sauce( lowers blood sugar) vitamin D3/k2 gummies …
What about an experience instead of something material. Maybe you could get her a gift card to her favorite salon? Or go get your nails done together?
Is she Insulin dependent. If so they have highs and lows and can absolutely still have a treat when they are rocking low numbers. And something sweet is actually mandatory if they drop below 70.
Been a caregiver for my father in-law for 7 years now. And most days I can give him a single serving of ice cream And I have got his A1C below 8 while reducing his insulin by 3/4 of what he took before.
So, if she is committed to eating right and taking care of her self, a small box of high quality dark chocolate. otherwise I agree with others. Stay away from Sweets.
As someone with food allergies, not food. I understand it’s a nice gesture to bring food as a gift, but people seriously need to stop doing it. What they need to do is bring something of that person’s interests.
I’ve always taken socks (diabetic socks would be nice). If she’s into coloring, markers or a coloring book. Gardening, you could bring her gloves or a kneeling mat. Reading, bookmarks or a reading light (I’m just throwing out hobbies).
You can buy some nuts if she’s not allergic, also a glucometer to check blood sugar levels if she don’t have a one.
Not a physical gift, but you might want to help her download and use one of the really helpful diabetic apps. Some help them track food, most monitor carb and calorie tracking, etc. Depending her tech savvy, you might really help her out!
Maybe something to wear. A pretty scarf, jewelry, a handbag, sunglasses, a pretty lip color.
I was diagnosed diabetic last year. It is an intense emotional and practical adjustment. Everyone has different needs depending on how advanced the disease is.
For the love of all that is kind and good, do not buy her diabetic socks. That is… not welcome early diagnosis unless she is having complications.
Depending on your relationship with your aunt, what I would want in her situation is a basket with a sample of many different brands of chocolate and chocolate alternatives that might fit within a diabetic diet. It can become a fun adventure to try different things and hopefully find some that work within her diet restrictions.
Things to look for: chocolates with less than 5g to 10g of sugar per serving (the recommended total daily limit is about 30g for context). The chocolates might achieve this with sugar alcohols, sugar alternatives, or servings that are really small.
Keto-friendly chocolates, diabetic chocolates and sugar free are labels to watch out for. Health food stores like Whole Foods are a good place to find something luxurious that meet dietary requirements.
I’ve found very small amounts of chocolate without fillings (just pure chocolate) don’t mess with my blood sugars and satisfy my cravings. I don’t like sugar alternatives much but my tastebuds have recalibrated to really enjoy treats that aren’t sugary – and I can manage blood sugar with diet and exercise.
The hardest part of the last year was finding products that work and I’ve spent so much time reading nutritional labels. Having someone put together a taste adventure and doing that research for me would have been incredible.
Coffee beans or tea. There are some specialty chocolates that are sugar-free, but even those can only be eaten in moderation if T2.
If there is a place near her that does “dry pedicures” or medical pedicures, a gift certificate to such a place might be nice.
Good quality lotions. Flowers. Etc.
For food presents, you could give some fancy nuts. This is what I do for diabetic people.
If she likes dark chocolate, this would be a good option for her. The darker, the better. As many others have suggested, there are sugar-free varieties, but I don’t like most of them as most use sucralose or stevia as the sweetners & those always taste nasty to me.
Go to grocery store specialty or high end they will have mixes of keto friendly desserts like cookies and cakes. Make her a batch and make sure no fake sugar Hmong fruit and stevia is ok! Or even look up keto recipes and make her something homemade! She will be fine! Do not get her diabetic socks as suggested! A potted plant is nice too!
A brand new TV? A laptop? New iPhone?
As a diabetic, I wouldn’t get her food. Every diabetic’s diets are different. I hate getting sugar free candy, but can tolerate dark chocolate or stuff like that. Not everyone is the same. I would recommend a candle, potted plant, or things others have mentioned.
ETA: fixed typo
Nice 100% wool socks. My mom loved and needed those.
I’m a T2 diabetic & have been for 15 years. It’s completely controlled with meds, diet & exercise and my A1C is in a completely normal range. So, things I don’t need: socks, glucometer, hot sauce, nutritional supplements, fruit (I can eat some fruits and not others, but it’s different for everyone & it takes trial & error & testing). Just because your aunt is diabetic doesn’t mean her gifts should be diabetic themed. It’s very thoughtful to avoid food gifts that are packed with sugar. Sugar free candy is a great option, but so are flowers, books, candles, gourmet coffee or tea with a beautiful cup, earrings, a necklace, or take her out for a meal.
She can still eat chocolate.
I like pork rinds with buffalo chicken dip if you wanna keep it edible
A journal and a nice pen, flowers, candles, tickets to do an activity like pottery painting or something done together.
Flowers and/or perfume
Flowers
There are lots of sugar free candies out there!
A bit of a tangent but when my mother became diabetic her biggest transition was wearing shoes all the time as she was a barefoot gal and the doc recommended against that.
Anyway, she’s grown a bit obsessed with Vionic brand slippers after that same doc recommended them. Maybe a longer term idea but wanted to throw it out there if your aunt is the same.
I am reading two kinds of advice here. Some from diabetic people. They are saying do not send food as a gift.
Then there are others who suggest some kind of food.
FFS, people. Do not buy food for someone who is diabetic or has any other kind of medical condition concerning food.
I bring my FIL a skinny caramel macchiato from Starbucks, he loves it. I also get him different seasonings and high protein snacks to enjoy. Things like seasoned meats and cheeses. Sometimes I buy him sudoku books he can throw away when done. I get my MIL jewelry, she loves shiny things. If I get her chocolate I get a very small amount of gourmet stuff. They’re both diabetic.
The best gift for someone is something that they need or would enjoy and actually use. Since my in-laws are old they have too much stuff already. That’s why I do a lot of small foods or small gifts.
I’m Type 2 – diets can vary quite a lot…but you know what she liked to eat before the diagnosis.
If foods are something you want to give…focus on seasonings, flavored oils, a meat & cheese board, a vegetable tray, fancy coffees or teas – things like that.
But, non-food items are good too. Candles, lotions, flowers, potted herbs, socks, books, etc.
If she likes shrimp, buy a pound or two, peel, season with some Johnny’s Seasoning Salt, and throw them on the grill. Melt some butter for dipping, and it’s a first-class treat!
A pretty stainless steel coffee cup or water bottle. Do you have a garden center around? A cute bird feeder. They come in pre formed shapes so you don’t need a separate feeder to hold the seeds.
Coffee, tea if she likes those without sweeteners. Shampoo. Body wash. Silk scarves if she likes that kinda thing.
A little succulent would be nice
You can do a basket. For one of my diabetic students I kept a lot of snacks on hand. Olives, jerky, pickles and pickled veggies, cheeses. You can make a nice gift basket out of that and she can eat everything without too much worry.
I’m also diabetic but manage mine with diet. (So thank you of being conscious that not everyone balances out with a shot of insulin and have to avoid sugar no matter what. OH!
Another suggestion!! it took me a long time to find things to drink that weren’t gross. Here are my favorites: La Croix Mango as well as guava. Canadra Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar, (don’t judge me) Mt Dew Zero Sugar, Fresca peach. You could make a drink basket or just buy a bunch, open them all, and have a taste test with her to see what she likes.
If she is a coffee drinker and uses cream–those carbs will kill you–they make fat free half and half that gives coffee the same texture as half and half. It has a little added sugar, but still is a very good option and is probably the most important advice I can give!
Walking shoes
I like to give Japanese maples, they’re easy to care for
A lot of diabetics have blood flow issues. Compression socks aren’t cute but practical.
They sell diabetic chocolates.
A cozy blanket, good socks, a good book
A restaurant gift card (she can make good choices when ordering.
What about getting your friend some adaptive clothing to make their life easier?
https://joeandbella.com/collections/diabetics-clothing
There are delicious sugar free chocolate candies out there, my husband is diabetic and has a sweet tooth.
If all else fails a gift card with candle and nice letter will get the job done! Just no food 🙂
I was going to suggest a book she might like.
My daughter has a strict diet and we also prefer no food as gifts.
Good olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Exotic teas and coffees. Charcuterie. Diabetics still have to eat, and good food does not have to be sugary or full of carbs.
Tickets to shows or events she’d enjoy,
Time. Go with her to events of her choosing
Notice what she surrounds herself with], and give her something related. A good book, flowers or plants. Etc
If you want to get her something she can eat, I think that fresh, high quality black pepper is nice. Just came back from Zanzibar and bought some there and my friend, it is just fantastic. Makes almost every dish 20% nicer.
She can use it in a way that is safe for her and still enjoy it, since it won’t mess with her blood sugars.
Sees Candy has some great sugar free options. After my mom was diagnosed I started sending that to her instead of the regular candy
A basket of vegetables! Fresh from a Farmers Market
Try non-food gifts like a book or flowers.
Get her the best sugar-free chocolate you can find. My FIL who is diabetic was so impressed when someone bought him sugar-free chocolate.
It’s sweet you want to buy a gift for your aunt. You know her better than the rest of us, but as an older person (who is not yet diabetic but who has a house full of belongings), I beg of you — DO NOT BUY ME STUFF I HAVEN’T ASKED FOR.
Don’t buy me socks, mugs, plants, slippers, water bottles, crafts, etc. It’s all going to wind up donated to a thrift store, or it’s going to a landfill.
Your presence is all the gift I need, but if you feel compelled to bring something, bring me a gift card to the local grocery store, a local restaurant, or to a local gas station like Sheetz or Wawa.
A few years ago, I donated something like THIRTY mugs, and I still have too many mugs. That Christmas, one of my colleagues brought me a mug filled with candies as a gift. It was very kind, but I don’t even use mugs.
Socks? Slippers? Yep, I get those, too. I give them away in the original packaging. I’m very particular with what I use. I’m overrun with water bottles and cloth grocery bags, too. I don’t like taking care of plants. There’s nothing you can bring me other than YOU that would make me happy.
T1D here 👋🏼 Sugar free candies/chocolate! But also, maybe a pack of regular juice boxes for her to have if her sugars ever do go low! Maybe even a gift card to her local pharmacy? Nuts, maybe a different kind of cheese for her to try? Slippers to keep her feet warm and protected!!
She is not the disease. She is a person with diabetes. People with cancer are not canceretics. We need to stop identifying people by a medical condition.
I read it as diabolic. Now I want to know what to get an evil genius
A new pancreas