Diabetes

Diabetes Nutrition Products at Walgreens

If you have diabetes, balanced nutrition is important. Your body needs all three of the major nutrients - carbohydrates, fats and protein - for good health. Though your body needs carbohydrates for energy, a diet high in certain types of carbohydrates makes it harder to control your blood sugar. Some carbohydrates are absorbed more rapidly by your body and cause a greater and faster rise in blood sugar than others. This makes it important to choose what you eat and drink wisely.

Diabetes Nutrition: Controlling Your Blood Sugar through a Healthy Meal Plan

There is no perfect eating pattern that benefits all individuals with diabetes but eating a wide variety of nutrient dense foods and watching portion sizes are key components to a healthy meal plan. In addition, consuming the appropriate portion sizes of carbohydrates that are slowly digested and absorbed rather than rapidly-digested ones can help with blood sugar control. Rapidly absorbed carbohydrates, abundant in sweet desserts and refined starches like white bread and white rice, cause rapid blood sugar spikes that make it hard to manage your blood sugar level. It may be challenging for some individuals to avoid the wrong carbs when you're on the go and short on time. Nutritional diabetic shakes made for the special needs of diabetics may be an ideal meal replacement or snack that won't rapidly raise your blood sugar level. These shakes are made with a special blend of carbohydrates that help to minimize rapid spikes in your blood sugar. Plus, they're fortified with an array of vitamins and minerals your body needs for good health.

How Are Diabetic Nutritional Shakes Different?

Nutritional shakes with slowly-digested carbohydrates provide a balanced "grab and go" meal or snack. When you're pressed for time and don't have time to grab lunch or dinner, a nutritional shake may be a healthy alternative to fast food and vending machine snacks. Carry one with you to work, to the gym and in a cooler when you're traveling so you always have a healthy meal replacement or snack that won't rapidly raise your blood sugar. Nutritional shakes with slowly-digested carbohydrates can be filling and satisfying. These shakes offer a sustained source of energy to help keep you energized for hours. Plus, they have up to 15 grams of hunger-taming protein in every serving. When you need to curb hunger and do it in a blood sugar friendly way, these nutritional shakes may help. They can be a part of your weight control plan as well.

Other Facts about Blood Sugar

The American Diabetes Association recommends diabetics keep their hemoglobin A1C level under 7%. Hemoglobin A1C is a blood test that doctors routinely perform on people with diabetes to see how well their blood sugar control has been over the past three months. A higher hemoglobin A1C level is linked with a greater risk for diabetic complications. Consuming slowly-digested carbohydrates like those in nutritional shakes made for diabetics in place of rapidly-digested carbohydrates is one way that may help you achieve better long-term blood sugar control.

The Importance of Continued Care

Keeping your blood sugar under control can help you avoid the many complications of diabetes. Nutritional shakes with slowly-absorbed carbohydrates can help to manage blood sugar spikes. . Plus, they offer the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy. These shakes can be part of a balanced diet and lifestyle plan for better blood sugar control. See your doctor regularly if you have diabetes and follow their meal plan recommendations and medical nutrition guidelines.

This summary is intended for general informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. You should read product labels. In addition, if you are taking medications, herbs, or other supplements you should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before taking any over-the-counter medication as they may interact with other medications, herbs, and nutritional products. If you have a medical condition, including if you are pregnant or nursing, you should speak to your physician before taking these products. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.