looking for ideas for Christmas

Hi all. I know that you're all the best people to ask for advice - you're all such caring people you'll know just the right thing to give.

My mother-in-law is diabetic, and in the past year or so her eye-sight has deteriorated to the extent that she has no sight in one eye, and about 20 per cent in the other.

She has always loved to read, however this has become almost impossible for her to do, but she detests 'talking books'.

The only type of chocolate that is available here for diabetics is quite plain and dull, and unless I can come up with a better idea, plain and dull it will have to be. I thought about buying the chocolate and melting it to cover dried fruit, but DH tells me she doesn't like dried fruit.

She also lives nearly 1000 miles away.


I AM taking her son to surprise them for Christmas lunch, but I suspect that he'd object strongly to being wrapped up with a bow! :)

She hasn't been terribly well of late, and I'd like to give her something special, rather than just something for the sake of having given her something. Any ideas?

Pam

Maybe a nice throw blanket with all her children's names embroidered on it and maybe give a nice fruit basket to go with it.

Maybe you could make a little book up thanking her for raising her son and include pictures in it. You could write down things you appreciate about her, too. Does she enjoy magazines? What about a subscription or two to magazines about her interests? Or maybe a decorated box of neat little goodies relating to her interests? Maybe windchimes, a little book, calendar, etc. in a theme?

Harry & David has some really good sugar-free confections. They're pricey, but if you call and ask what's on telephone special, you might just luck out! Here's their sugar free stuff: http://www.harryanddavid.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/site_search.d2w/report

Hope that helps! :o)

My son is diabetic, and he always loved getting any kind of candy, so I went all out buying sugarfree for his stocking. Now that he is grown, his wife makes sugarfree cookies and desserts, and keeps his truck stocked with a supply of both sugarfree and regular drinks and snacks. Many people make the mistake of thinking diabetics can't ever have sugar, but in his case, since he is a very brittle diabetic (that means it's almost impossible to control his blood sugar levels), sometimes he has to get sugar into his system fast. This happens especially if he is real tired or getting sick, or goes too long between meals. So they make sure he always has both kinds close at hand. For your mother-in-law, a little assortment of individually sealed goodies in small packets for her car or purse might be nice. Son also likes teas which taste good without sugar. Packaged in nice tins or baskets, these things are welcome. Skin care products might also be good, as many diabetics have problems with dry skin.

Check out low-carb websites for great recipes using Splenda, which is a sweetener that does not spike the blood sugar... and is delicious and SAFE. You could even send her a care package.. Swiss Miss makes a splenda-sweetened hot cocoa instant mix...

maybe you could check into resources near her and hire someone to read to her instead of the "talking books" thing?

how about music instead of books?

How about large print books, they have them in lots of great titles... you could look on Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble or Borders online. All of these places have the giant print books, and she can read them herself.

Another great gift would be the new GE Reveal full spectrum light bulbs. The difference in how you see with these things is amazing. Try it in your own house and see.

Just a few ideas from one diabetic to another...

You could order her a big screen TV from a local electronics chain and they would even deliver and set up for her... ?

sign her up for cable or satellite tv so she can watch what she loves?

I echo the goodies with Splenda, it is a safe and good tasting sweetener. We have a local independent Candy person, who makes very good , fresh sugar free chocolate. I am not sure he is on line, but I could send you the info if interested. How about a nice, mildly scented body cream, or soft padded socks ( for the usually sore feet). A family tape reviewing all the neat things of the past and then have a tape and asking her about her past. I live in WI and we have some wonderful cheese places that ship, the fresh dates that are coming in now are great, shelled hickory and black walnuts at the farmers market for those last 2 let me know and I will facilitate. I come from a diabetic foster family, so do understand some of the issues.