It must be tough for a child to keep away from chocolates just because of diabetes. Actually, not only to a diabetic, avoiding sweets is generally difficult. But with a child, how do you say no?

Being at risk I try and stay away from sweets myself. I have a child who is not diabetic but we have no problem keeping her away from sweets. In fact she would much rather have Baked Lays than a cupcake. Don't ask me how I did it but she doesn't really care for sweet things. She also has never had pop(soda) either. In my opinion once kids are exposed to the sweet things you can never really keep them away from it. She does eat a little ice cream we don't deprive her of sweets. If she wants to try them we let her but we are the parents and she is only 2 so we control what she eats. By teaching her early we are hoping to instill in her good healthy eating habits for later in life.

sugarfree candy doesn't taste that bad...

Sounds like a good plan, Bootsie. Yes, at least if you allow her to make some of those decisions, she may not reach that "well all the other kids are eating a lot of sugar...." stage and start wanting it all the time.

- Des

I second that. Training is really good to make a habit out of it. But what about young type-2 diabetics who have previously been eating chocolates/sweets and suddenly found themselves staying away from it? Although they might get used to being without it eventually, I imagine it will be definitely hard the first time or so.

Sugarfree candy sounds like a good alternative. Maybe chocolates made from aspartame?

I think you can retrain tastes a fair amount too by gradually dropping to less sweetened options gradually and just putting less and less sugar in home made stuff.

I would be hesitant to allow children to eat too much aspartame. This is a good prop and probably not harmful in small amounts but with kids developing brains and it's potential effects on memory, I would worry.

it's hard with all the advertising out there, but if you can walk away all the processed sugars you'll feel better in the long run - even if you don't have diabetes!

I absolutely agree with this... I think the same probably goes for things like white flour, too.

The thing about both kids and adults is also that if the candy is there, it is very hard to have self control. So either keep candy out of the house, or if someone in the house insists on having at (hubby etc) have them keep a stash in their office or nightstand, not in the kitchen. If kids know there isn;t any candy they accept refulsal easier and whine less. I also know where the candy asile of the supermarket is and don't even turn down it and use the 'candy free' check out aisle.

It's hard for kids especially around halloween. How would you get around this?