I've just had a request from my colleague asking for a cake for one of our company directors, only catch is, he's diabetic. There only seems to be one recipe here (that I can find, at least) and it doesn't have fantastic reviews, so I'm loathe to use it :/ I'd quite like to make a velvet cake (a bit like this http://www.cooksrecipes.com/diabetic/lemon_velvet_cake_recipe.html ) but I always worry when trying recipes that don't come recommended.

Is it just a case of replacing the sugar with a sugar substitute? Should I use a different type of flour, or would a regular all-purpose be fine? My knowledge of diabetics is horribly minimal, so I apologies if I'm asking stupid questions.

My son is diabetic and he just takes insulin to cover the carbs in cake.
Carbs are what diabetics have to limit or take insulin for, depending on wht type
Of diabetes they have and if they are on insulin. There are carbs in the
sugar and the flour. High fat food also raises blood sugar.

A cheesecake is better for a diabetic than regular cake. That eliminates the flour and the sugar can be Splenda or some other fewer-carbs sweetener.

I had gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy and the bakery told us no way. My diabetes was regulated with medication (not insulin) and diet, so the party coordinator made everything low carb except the cake. My doctor told me to eat the cake (no more than a 2"x2" slice) and then check my sugar and handle it accordingly like any other meal.

If the party is not a surprise, the people doing it could ask him if it has to be a diabetic cake. How do you even make icing without sugar?

My neighbor is diabetic so I called my hospitals dietician and asked her about diabetics and cakes. She told me that the cake is ok for a diabetic that it's the frosting that they have trouble with. I asked her about Frosting Pride and she had me read the ingredients to her over the phone and she said it would be fine. For a filling I take two cups whipping cream and one small box of sugar free instant vanilla pudding and whip until peaks form. I either use Frostin Pride or My mousse frosting recipe and sub sugar free Cool Whip and sugar free pudding. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/whipped-cream-mousse-frosting/detail.aspx