Continuing with our theme of understanding and planning for guests with special diets, here are a few further things to be aware of.

Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the sugar in milk called lactose. This inability results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced in the small intestine. Sufferers have to avoid; milk, ice cream, cheese, cream, sour cream, chocolate, and butter. There are many non-dairy or ‘lactose free’ products available today as substitutes.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin (a hormone that is needed to convert sugar). There are two main types of diabetes:

 Type 1 – When the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40, less common and non-preventable. Sufferers often have to replace the insulin into their body by form of injection.

Type 2 – When the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work. This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, and is the most common accounting for 85% of all people with diabetes.

They keep their diet high in fibre, low in fat and relatively low in sugar. Pulses, green vegetables and whole-grains are all low on the glycaemic index. Other foods popular with diabetics are; grilled white meat such as chicken and turkey, oily fish or lean meats, vegetables, starchy carbohydrates such as pasta, bread and potatoes and fruits like berries, peaches and melons.

 Food Allergies

Food allergies occur when your body mistakes certain foods as harmful, and produces antibodies, which then react  negatively to the food when it is next consumed – causing an ‘allergic reaction’. Some food allergies result in immediate, severe and even life-threatening symptoms (such as severe nut allergy), whereas others take longer to develop and are less severe. People with food allergies stick to a balanced diet, just without the problem foods. These foods can be replaced with an alternative to ensure consumption of all essential nutrients.

It’s best to ask guests to send you details of their special diets with their RSVP to the wedding invitation.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 11:54 am and is filed under Be A Wise Bride, Organisational tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.