Cakes for Diabetics

[Emily Ball]

I'd like to bake a cake occasionally  for  an elderly man who is an insulin-dependent diabetic. He usually buys a simple fruit cake made by the 'exceedingly good cakes' manufacturer . He offered me a slice one day and suffice it to say I was not at all impressed. Has anyone out there got any favourite recipes -simple but tasty?

[funkychicken]

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Recipes.nsf/0/DA553DACA8E2811E80256CD0004D9473?opendocument
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Recipes.nsf/0/CF8001C0FB2B1CD380256B9F0043D770?opendocument
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Recipes.nsf/0/7B6285EDDAE774DB80256B5F0040A5A6?opendocument

here are some cake recipes, I haven't tried any of them but the chocolate courgette cake sounds nice (if not a bit weird) I have diabetes and my mum just reduces the amount of sugar in normal cake recipes or substitutes some of the sugar for artificial sweetner

hope thats of some help =) 

[Emily Ball]

Thanks funkychicken. They certainly look good and I'm going to test out one of the recipes tomorrow. I think I've got all the ingredients. Incidentally, the old boy is 89 this year and his diabetes was diagnosed nearly 50 years ago but he is still quite active and otherwise quite healthy.

[Bangkok]

As an insulin dependent diabetic, most specialist diabetic cakes are truly horrible (not tried the recipes above, always willing to try new things)

I go for a little bit of what you fancy, and try to get the best possible.  Personally, I'd go for a traditional rich fruit cake and a slice of mature cheddar.   You could even tempt me with a glass of Shiraz.

Exceedingly good doesn' t cut it when it is a special treat.  If you have a Waitrose or similar nearby, they may have a luxury fruit cake.  However home made is the best.

Oh, and if he likes chocolate, get him bar of Green and Blacks organic or, failing that, a 70% cocoa bar (Lindt or similar).  It is way nicer and better for you than the nonsense that pretends to be specialist diabetic chocolate.

If you make a fruit cake, can you send me a bit?   Your friend is a lucky man.

[Emily Ball]

You're right bangkok, I use only Lindt or Black and Green's for my baking.  Only the stuff made with 70% cocoa butter can properly call itself chocolate. I worked for many years in a big confectionery company so I know what goes into it. Anyway, back to the old boy.... he is extremely lucky in many ways but apart from the occasional meals I have cooked for him his daily diet is very monotonous and second-rate in content and presentation, so I like to take him a bit of decent home -cooking every now and  then . Ater all, good food is one of the greatest pleasures in life for most of us-looks like it is for you too!

[NightMail]

Thornton's diabetic chocolate is delicious.

As far as cake is concerned my diabetic nurse says I can have a small piece of cake as long as it is with a main meal. The pancreas gets confused about what is coming down the shute and doesn't notice the cake. BUT it MUST be a small piece. No pigging out.