Diabetic Gift Baskets
Diabetic gift baskets can be a great gift to give a loved one in the hospital or to a sufferer of diabetes during the holidays, or as a congratulatory gift for a big life event. Even though gift baskets are welcome at any time, for any reason, those with diabetes have special needs and dietary restrictions that must be taken into consideration when selecting gifts. But do not fear! Plenty of options are out there for diabetic gift baskets. Here are a few ideas:
Things to Include
There might be several items you might wish to include in a diabetic gift basket. These may include food (with restrictions, which we will talk about later), particular care items, or just gifts. You may include a card, flowers, food, and more. If you are ever in doubt about what to include in a diabetic gift basket, a good rule of thumb is to not include food, unless you know the persons’ dietary restrictions, as they may have other allergies or restrictions you may not be aware of. If you are in this situation, think about personal care items, gift certificates, crafts, monetary gifts, or even other sentimental items you could include in a gift basket.
Food Ideas
If you would like to purchase food to include in the gift basket you want to present to your diabetic friend or loved one, it is important that you know their dietary restrictions, first. Talk to their loved ones and their doctor and nurse about what would be a good idea. You may be able to purchase specially made diabetic gift baskets with appropriate food already in them from local florists, or online. If you want to make you own, there are a few items that are normally a safe bet. These include fruits, popcorn and toppings, coffee, teas, gourmet cheeses, or nuts. If you want to include sweets, you may want to know about their preferences, and then make a low-sugar and low-carbohydrate variation, or look for sugar free brands of the particular snack item in the store.
Care Items
Care items are another great thing to include in a diabetic gift basket. These may include the gifts of test strips, diabetic apparel, like socks, moisturizing lotion, a blood glucose monitor, active wear, recipe books that provide helpful sugar free or low-sugar recipes, heating pads, magnifiers to read syringes, alcohol prep pads, a diabetic ID bracelet or identifying jewelry with a wallet card, movies on diabetes control, or a journal that will help them monitor their blood glucose levels, activity, meals, and more. Other personal care or decorative items, like shampoos, shower gels, lotions, gloves, picture frames, or more that have nothing to do with the patient’s condition may also be considered, and may be a fantastic idea, depending upon the age and health of the patient themselves. There are plenty of items you can include in a diabetic gift basket that will make your friend or family member feel loved and cared for.