With some high street retailers selling ‘diabetic chocolate’, Hotel Chocolat are often asked why they don’t.
The answer is, they don’t do it because they consider the whole concept of ‘diabetic chocolate’ is highly questionable. Moreover, this is a stance endorsed by the charity Diabetes UK.
Medical advice recommends that a healthy diet for people with diabetes is the same diet as for those without it - a balanced diet low in fat, sugar and salt with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
There are no forbidden foods, just energy regulation and fat restriction through sensible, healthy eating.
So-called ‘diabetic chocolate’ contains bulk sweeteners like fructose or sorbitol in place of natural sugar, which affect blood sugar levels in much the same way as sugar.
This chocolate can also be high in trans fats, which aren’t recommended eating for anyone - with or without diabetes.
The danger in labelling a product ‘diabetic’ means a spurious stamp of approval that some people with diabetes find hard to ignore - they may even believe it to be beneficial or essential. Yet some chocolate manufacturers persist in exploiting this market.
Far better instead to enjoy - in moderation, of course - real chocolate made with wholesome ingredients and a high cocoa content
You might like to try the following…
Dark Madagascar Purist
Boxed Mini Slabs - Non bitter
Dark Engraved Chocolate Heart
There are plenty more on Hotel Chocolat’s website
This exercise has given me an irrepressible urge to order some real chocolate… dark, of course.
PS Just in case you wondered, the top picture is organic dark chocolate with chilli and pink peppercorns.
