Diabetic Chocolate!!!

[Paul_c]

My daughter has got for my Father's Day pressie (at quite some expense) some Boots Diabetic No Added Sugar Belgian Chocolate Seashells

I at a loss as to how they can get away with promoting this rubbish as ideal for diabetics...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2008/12/chocolate_is_the_perfect_gift.html

When Watchdog contacted Boots they told us that:

"Boots takes the opinion of customers very seriously. In 2002, on the advice of Diabetes UK we removed our Diabetic Food Range. However, we received significant, sustained customer complaints about the lack of a specifically labelled Diabetic Food range at Boots and we always listen to their feedback carefully.
Our customers told us that they liked the peace of mind of being able to buy 'treat' foods clearly labelled as suitable for those living with diabetes. In light of this customer reaction we took the decision to reinstate the Diabetic Food Range in 2005.

"The range is designed to offer occasional 'treat' food that those with diabetes often miss, such as no added sugar chocolate. These occasional foods are not designed to be a main part of a balanced diet. Boots recommend that people with diabetes follow a healthy, balanced diet with a wide variety of foods and we offer advice and information in store and online and our pharmacists are available to help and offer lifestyle advice.

"We listen to our customers and care about their opinion - we are aware of the issues surrounding this type of range and regular reviews take place; for example, we will be adding the traffic light nutritional guidance system to the packs next year."

I daren't touch these now knowing just how laxative they could be...

PS. I've dropped a subtle hint that fine dark chocolate with 80% or greater cocoa solids content is far better for me next time...

 

[IanD]

That programme was my minute of TV fame ... but I'm not included in that clip.

Ian Day was diagnosed with diabetes back in 2000 and last Christmas his friend gave him Thorntons diabetic chocolates as a gift. Ian only had three pieces but that was all he needed to spoil the rest of his day. He too suffered from the laxative effects of diabetic chocolate.

When Ian checked the Thorntons box he saw that it said "excessive consumption may produce a laxative effect." But can three pieces of chocolate really be "excessive"?

 

[Grazer]

I understand both your points, but I must say I'm maybe one of the lucky ones.
I have the boots seashells. Normally only have one, as a treat now and again. Have never had any side effects, and BG never moves.
Also had thorntons, the "diabetic" milk chocolate bar, and again, a couple of pieces leaves my BGs unmoved and no side effects at all. And i like the taste! So a win for me, but I know it's not for lots of people.

 

[hanadr]

diabetic chocolate in SMALL amounts isn't too bad, but it is pricey
Try LIDL's
"Finest Creamy Wholenu Chocolate"
It's delicious beyond belief and the carb count is 35.1% I have a square nearly every night at about 3 carbs.
Hana

 

[BeccaJaneStClair]

I understand both your points, but I must say I'm maybe one of the lucky ones.
I have the boots seashells. Normally only have one, as a treat now and again. Have never had any side effects, and BG never moves.
Also had thorntons, the "diabetic" milk chocolate bar, and again, a couple of pieces leaves my BGs unmoved and no side effects at all. And i like the taste! So a win for me, but I know it's not for lots of people.

I haven't had a problem with diabetic chocolate either, and in fact, one of the first things my MIL gave me after I was diagnosed was some Thornton's diabetic chocolate as a sign of support. A lot of food "may cause a laxative effect", but the key word is "may".

 

[BioHaZarD]

I have no problem with boots range of choc, biscuits and other stuff, if you have 1 or 2 pieces they are fine and I tfind them quite tasty, I had some of the choc wafers and shortbread and weirdly I though they tasted better than other proper ones (mus be used to much less sugars now) no laxative effect as I only had some, not a lot. Also yes normal dark choc from the shops 80% is good too, but it must be the good stuff not own brands as these are high in carbs.

 

[Sunhat]

One Christmas eve I sat up after everyone had gone off to bed wrapping the presents and ate a whole packet of Thorntons´ diabetic toffee, it was delicious...... little did I know it had a laxative effect!
I stick now to 80% or above, a bar lasts me a month, it is too rich to eat loads

Sunhat

 

[noblehead]

Not something I would buy myself but agree with others that one or two shells shouldn't have you running to the loo, the 80-90% dark chocolate is a good suggestion and Aldi's Mosser Roth is both cheap and delicious.

 

[shop]

My daughter has got for my Father's Day pressie (at quite some expense) some Boots Diabetic No Added Sugar Belgian Chocolate Seashells

I at a loss as to how they can get away with promoting this rubbish as ideal for diabetics...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2008/12/chocolate_is_the_perfect_gift.html

When Watchdog contacted Boots they told us that:

"Boots takes the opinion of customers very seriously. In 2002, on the advice of Diabetes UK we removed our Diabetic Food Range. However, we received significant, sustained customer complaints about the lack of a specifically labelled Diabetic Food range at Boots and we always listen to their feedback carefully.
Our customers told us that they liked the peace of mind of being able to buy 'treat' foods clearly labelled as suitable for those living with diabetes. In light of this customer reaction we took the decision to reinstate the Diabetic Food Range in 2005.

"The range is designed to offer occasional 'treat' food that those with diabetes often miss, such as no added sugar chocolate. These occasional foods are not designed to be a main part of a balanced diet. Boots recommend that people with diabetes follow a healthy, balanced diet with a wide variety of foods and we offer advice and information in store and online and our pharmacists are available to help and offer lifestyle advice.

"We listen to our customers and care about their opinion - we are aware of the issues surrounding this type of range and regular reviews take place; for example, we will be adding the traffic light nutritional guidance system to the packs next year."

I daren't touch these now knowing just how laxative they could be...

PS. I've dropped a subtle hint that fine dark chocolate with 80% or greater cocoa solids content is far better for me next time...

I found out from experience!!! :sick: :shock:

 

[BeccaJaneStClair]

Today I was in boots, and I thought I'd pick up one of their chocolate bars to munch on while I shop....having not had chocolate in any quantity since I was diagnosed in March, I've gone off chocolate! I've got 3/4 of the bar left, and it was only a little 30g bar!

 

[IanD]

I tried to interest Watchdog in the dangers of the DUK diet & the benefits of LCHF but they weren't interested. I emailed them afterwards & PM'd but never got a reply. Nor an appearance fee.

 

[SueR]

I can't eat diabetic chocolate either, one square and :cry:

It is annoying because Thornton's do have a good range of diabetic products and they do look good but.. Having treated the other half to some of their Turkish Delight and seeing the results - he has a cast iron stomach normally and has been able to eat diabetic products - I think I'll save my money and stick to Aldi chocolate bars.

Diabetic chocolate is the spawn of the devil and wants banning.

 

[etmsreec]

I think the spread of comments here echo my long held belief that what's right for one is wrong for another. For example, my sister bought me a diabetic selection pack at Christmas. There's still a bit of it left and the box does state: "This products contains polyols and we recommend eating no more than 20g polyols per day due to potential laxative effects. However sensitive individuals may react to levels less than this."

As with all things, your mileage will vary. There are some of us that will be fine with the painkiller Kapake while others will be constipated. Some will get similar results with a 3-egg omelette.

 

[IanD]

Just trying to get my screen cleaned

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, I found the Boots diabetic chocolates were absolutely ghastly! Honestly, I couldn't stay out of the bathroom!

Back to the raspberries for me, I think lol

 

[RoyG]

Oh dear oh dear, I wondered into a Thorntons shop today and instantly saw the diabetic range and the wife bought me two bars Turkish delight and fudge. I thought what the heck bought the selection pack, the bars just went in an instant! Gulp, so all was going swimmingly, we returned from the shops and a little later I drove the wife to Asda, while waiting for her return things got really uncomfortable in my stomach, so much so that by the time she returned I resembled a sweating mess, I ain't drove the car that fast for a while good job the Police never stopped me (what a mess that would have been) but had to pay a rapid visit to the little boys room, I was complaining of constipation last week? But believe me, I know what to eat for it now If anybody gets tempted Just have the one or two pieces and read the label first not the 46g of polyols I ate, that will teach me

 

[Clover]

I had intended to not ever buy or eat diabetic chocolate, but my son bought me a box of Thornton's chocolates for my birthday.

Not wanting to reprogramme my body to crave sweet food, but also not wanting to hurt my son's feelings, I had some. 5 in fact, through an evening. They were not what I expected at all, they were nice, especially the turkish delight. I had no ill effects and I haven't craved chocolate since either, which is a relief!

 

[RoyG]

I had intended to not ever buy or eat diabetic chocolate, but my son bought me a box of Thornton's chocolates for my birthday.

Not wanting to reprogramme my body to crave sweet food, but also not wanting to hurt my son's feelings, I had some. 5 in fact, through an evening. They were not what I expected at all, they were nice, especially the turkish delight. I had no ill effects and I haven't craved chocolate since either, which is a relief!

I agree they tasted really nice, but was not expecting the aftermath, It's strange with them as some do have issues with them some don't, only goes to show we are all different.

 

[RoyG]

This **** is confusing and annoying, how and why are they getting away with the mis selling of it. Now I should know better, and yes in my endeavours to get to grips with Diabetes and see what results it would have on my BG I bought them (as wrote on box diabetic selection pack) without first doing the research "But" eg,

Thorntons no added sugar diabetic vanilla flavour toffee a 100g packet. Each bag contains 447 kcal, 61.1g of carbohydrate (3.0g of which sugars), 58.1g of Polyol and 31.9g of fat (22.7g of which saturates). I could not fault the taste, it was delicious and I could not tell the difference between this and ordinary toffee. I ate 3 pieces, worryingly about this product is the amount of Polyol. In 25g there is 14.5g of the sweetener, almost 3/4 of the recommended daily allowance. The toffee however, was not individually wrapped and in chunks of various sizes. This made it extremely difficult to judge how many grams of toffee I would consume. Unless using a pair of scales, and we all carry those in our pockets/Bags? so working out how much of this product I could safely eat was a challenge. Also the amount of carbs that are in it, admittedly not all will be converted to Glucose but I bet a substantial amount will.

I think it is totally inappropriate to label this stuff as diabetic, people would/do buy this stuff thinking they are giving their diabetic who ever a treat, when in reality they are doing them no favours at all? How are they getting away with ripping off and kidding the public, I am in two minds as to bin them or keep them locked in cupboard, in case the little feller gets to them, god only knows what they would do to him if he ate a substantial amount. Lesson learned, as is mentioned on here. Do not buy rubbish that states diabetic friendly or suitable :thumbdown:

 

[Paul_c]

Stute Diabetic Jam is OK... it's made with no sugar added compared to normal jam. Just go easy on it and keep it in the fridge once opened... such a pity I can't get through a jar before it goes off though...

http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi...Diabetic_Fine_Cut_Orange_Marmalade_430g_.html
55 g carb per 100 of which 3 is natural sugars.

Sorbital makes up the remainder of the carbs so it still contains a polyol so you can't go mad on it, but a teaspoon or two is OK to add to a recipe that calls for ordinary jam...

As far as I can recall, you don't need to count the sorbital as a carb for carb counting otherwise you run the risk of having a hypo.

Just wish they'd standardise on these things for carb counting purposes as to whether a polyol really is a carbohydrate or not when it comes to carb counting for low carbers and diabetics on hypoglycaemic medication.