Glucerna Nutritional Shakes for Diabetes

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGlucerna ProductsNutrition FactsPros and ConsGlucerna and Diabetes

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Glucerna Products

Nutrition Facts

Pros and Cons

Glucerna and Diabetes

Glucerna is a brand of nutritional shakes and bars formulated for people withdiabetesorprediabetes. The vitamin-fortified meal replacement drinks and snacks are made withlow-glycemic carbohydrates, which have less of an impact on blood sugar levels.

Glucerna diabetes products are designed to help improve blood sugar control. The products are also used as a weight-loss program for people with or without diabetes.

Preventing Diabetes With Weight Watchers

Glucerna Product Lines

Glucerna offers several product lines of premixed shakes, ready-to-mix powders, and snack bars. Glucerna shakes products include:

The Glucerna product line also includes meal-replacement snack bars, which are low in sugar and carbs and high in protein, like the shakes. Glucerna Mini Treat bars are intended to serve as a healthy dessert choice or small snack that won’t spike glucose levels.

All Glucerna products are:

Glucerna products contain milk proteins and are not safe for people with an allergy to casein or whey.They also contain fructose (a natural fruit sugar) and artificial sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium, which may cause potential health issues in people with diabetes.

Glucerna can be purchased online atAmazonor other major retailers and grocery stores.

Glucerna Original Shakes

Glucerna Original Shakecomes in an 8-ounce bottle containing 180 calories, 16 g of carbohydrates, and 10 g of protein. It is available in five flavors:

Glucerna Original Snack Shakecomes in an 8-ounce can containing 140 calories, 19 g of carbohydrates, and 7 g of protein. Flavors include homemade vanilla and rich chocolate.

Glucerna Hunger Smart Shakes

Glucerna Hunger Smart products come in three varieties.

Glucerna Hunger Smart Shakescome in a 10-ounce bottle containing 180 calories, 16 g of carbohydrates, and 15 g of protein. It comes in four flavors:

Glucerna Hunger Smart Meal Size Shakescome in a 16-ounce Tetra Pak carton containing 250 calories, 21 g of carbohydrates, and 23 g of protein. It comes in two flavors: homemade vanilla and rich chocolate.

Glucerna Hunger Smart Powderis a read-to-mix snack replacement that comes in a 22.3-ounce tub that makes 19 8-ounce servings. One scoop contains 120 calories, 3 g of carbohydrates, and 22 g of protein. The powder can be mixed with 8 ounces of water, juice, or milk. It comes in two flavors: homemade vanilla and rich chocolate.

Glucerna Protein Smart Shakes

Glucerna Protein Smart Shakescome in a an 11-ounce Tetra Pak carton containing 150 calories, 7 g of carbohydrates, and 30 g of protein. It comes in two flavors: homemade vanilla and rich chocolate.

Glucerna Original Nutrition Facts

Designed as a meal replacement or a between-meal snack, all Glucerna products are fortified with vitamins and minerals.

Glucerna’s nutrition facts are in line with recommendations from both theAmerican Diabetes Association(ADA) and theAmerican Heart Association(AHA). According to the ADA, a healthy diet should include more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats than saturated or trans fats in your diet.The AHA maintains that saturated fats should be as low as 5% to 6% of those calories.

While Glucerna offers several different formulas and flavors, most of the products contain the same key ingredients and nutrients.

Nutrition Facts For Glucerna Original Shakes and Snack BarsNutrientShakeBarCalories180160Carbohydrates16g17gFiber4g3gProtein10g11gTotal fat9g7gSaturated fat1g2.5gTotal sugars4g4gAdded sugars4g4gVitamin A25% DV25% DVVitamin C100% DV10% DVVitamin D60% DV2% DVVitamins B6, and folate25% DV20% DVVitamin E40% DV100% DVCalcium20% DV15% DVIron20% DV10% DVBased on the primary nutritional values of an 8-ounce Glucerna Homemade Vanilla shake and one 40g Dark Chocolate Almond bar.Glucerna products also contain smaller amounts of additional vitamins and trace minerals, such as riboflavin, chromium, and manganese depending on the product.Pros and ConsGlucerna shakes offer benefits for people either trying to lose weight or maintain tighter control of their blood sugar. But they also have shortcomings, particularly for those who do not have diabetes. Among the considerations:ProsGood source of protein:An 8-ounce Glucerna shake has 10 grams of protein, which is equal to approximately one-and-a-half whole eggs. On average, 46 grams of protein is recommended daily for an adult woman, while 56 grams are recommended for an adult male.Low-glycemic food:Glucerna nutritional shakes can be considered low-glycemic, meaning that the carbohydrates contained in them are digested slowly and cause less of a spike in blood sugar.Convenience:Glucerna shakes and bars are a portable option when you’re on the go and don’t have access to diabetes-friendly food.Satisfy cravings:If you’ve got a hankering for something sweet but are trying to keep your blood sugar in check, Glucerna’s five sweet flavors can help satisfy your sweet tooth without spiking your glucose.ConsContains fructose:Research suggeststhat fructose may impact glycemic control in those with diabetes and may pose a risk oftype 2 diabetesin those who do not have the disease.Contains artificial sweeteners:According to a 2017 study, thrice-daily use of sucralose and acesulfame potassium (both contained in Glucerna) has been shown to impair the glucose response in people without diabetes.Risk of over-reliance:While Glucerna shakes and bars are a convenient food option when you don’t have time for a full meal, it may be tempting to rely on them too often as a meal replacement. Glucerna products shouldn’t take the place of more than one meal or snack per day, as they’re technically a processed food and not a true substitute for fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.How Glucerna May Help DiabetesIf you’re trying to better manage your glucose levels and/or weight, Glucerna products can supplement adiabetes-friendly meal planthat’s lower in carbs and higher in protein. Glucerna is formulated from slow-burning carbs that are designed to be digested slowly so as not to quickly raise your blood sugar.Try occasionally incorporating a shake as your breakfast or use it as an after-lunch snack to hold you over until dinner no more than a few times per week. Test your blood sugar levels before and after to see how Glucerna affects you personally.With type 2 diabetes, your best bet for long-term success is to center the bulk of your diet on low-glycemic whole foods such as whole grains (oats, whole wheat bread, brown rice, etc.) and non-starchy vegetables (peppers, onions, cauliflower, leafy greens, etc.), lean protein (poultry, fish, and legumes), and healthy fats (olive oil, avocados), and use Glucerna to help fill in the gaps when necessary.For the most part, whole, unrefined foods are better options than processed foods such as Glucerna.If you have type 2 diabetes, Glucerna shouldn’t be used in place of healthy diet changes and lifestyle habits, butin additionto those shifts.

Glucerna products also contain smaller amounts of additional vitamins and trace minerals, such as riboflavin, chromium, and manganese depending on the product.

Glucerna shakes offer benefits for people either trying to lose weight or maintain tighter control of their blood sugar. But they also have shortcomings, particularly for those who do not have diabetes. Among the considerations:

ProsGood source of protein:An 8-ounce Glucerna shake has 10 grams of protein, which is equal to approximately one-and-a-half whole eggs. On average, 46 grams of protein is recommended daily for an adult woman, while 56 grams are recommended for an adult male.Low-glycemic food:Glucerna nutritional shakes can be considered low-glycemic, meaning that the carbohydrates contained in them are digested slowly and cause less of a spike in blood sugar.Convenience:Glucerna shakes and bars are a portable option when you’re on the go and don’t have access to diabetes-friendly food.Satisfy cravings:If you’ve got a hankering for something sweet but are trying to keep your blood sugar in check, Glucerna’s five sweet flavors can help satisfy your sweet tooth without spiking your glucose.ConsContains fructose:Research suggeststhat fructose may impact glycemic control in those with diabetes and may pose a risk oftype 2 diabetesin those who do not have the disease.Contains artificial sweeteners:According to a 2017 study, thrice-daily use of sucralose and acesulfame potassium (both contained in Glucerna) has been shown to impair the glucose response in people without diabetes.Risk of over-reliance:While Glucerna shakes and bars are a convenient food option when you don’t have time for a full meal, it may be tempting to rely on them too often as a meal replacement. Glucerna products shouldn’t take the place of more than one meal or snack per day, as they’re technically a processed food and not a true substitute for fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Good source of protein:An 8-ounce Glucerna shake has 10 grams of protein, which is equal to approximately one-and-a-half whole eggs. On average, 46 grams of protein is recommended daily for an adult woman, while 56 grams are recommended for an adult male.

Low-glycemic food:Glucerna nutritional shakes can be considered low-glycemic, meaning that the carbohydrates contained in them are digested slowly and cause less of a spike in blood sugar.

Convenience:Glucerna shakes and bars are a portable option when you’re on the go and don’t have access to diabetes-friendly food.

Satisfy cravings:If you’ve got a hankering for something sweet but are trying to keep your blood sugar in check, Glucerna’s five sweet flavors can help satisfy your sweet tooth without spiking your glucose.

ConsContains fructose:Research suggeststhat fructose may impact glycemic control in those with diabetes and may pose a risk oftype 2 diabetesin those who do not have the disease.Contains artificial sweeteners:According to a 2017 study, thrice-daily use of sucralose and acesulfame potassium (both contained in Glucerna) has been shown to impair the glucose response in people without diabetes.Risk of over-reliance:While Glucerna shakes and bars are a convenient food option when you don’t have time for a full meal, it may be tempting to rely on them too often as a meal replacement. Glucerna products shouldn’t take the place of more than one meal or snack per day, as they’re technically a processed food and not a true substitute for fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Contains fructose:Research suggeststhat fructose may impact glycemic control in those with diabetes and may pose a risk oftype 2 diabetesin those who do not have the disease.

Contains artificial sweeteners:According to a 2017 study, thrice-daily use of sucralose and acesulfame potassium (both contained in Glucerna) has been shown to impair the glucose response in people without diabetes.

Risk of over-reliance:While Glucerna shakes and bars are a convenient food option when you don’t have time for a full meal, it may be tempting to rely on them too often as a meal replacement. Glucerna products shouldn’t take the place of more than one meal or snack per day, as they’re technically a processed food and not a true substitute for fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

How Glucerna May Help Diabetes

If you’re trying to better manage your glucose levels and/or weight, Glucerna products can supplement adiabetes-friendly meal planthat’s lower in carbs and higher in protein. Glucerna is formulated from slow-burning carbs that are designed to be digested slowly so as not to quickly raise your blood sugar.

Try occasionally incorporating a shake as your breakfast or use it as an after-lunch snack to hold you over until dinner no more than a few times per week. Test your blood sugar levels before and after to see how Glucerna affects you personally.

With type 2 diabetes, your best bet for long-term success is to center the bulk of your diet on low-glycemic whole foods such as whole grains (oats, whole wheat bread, brown rice, etc.) and non-starchy vegetables (peppers, onions, cauliflower, leafy greens, etc.), lean protein (poultry, fish, and legumes), and healthy fats (olive oil, avocados), and use Glucerna to help fill in the gaps when necessary.

For the most part, whole, unrefined foods are better options than processed foods such as Glucerna.If you have type 2 diabetes, Glucerna shouldn’t be used in place of healthy diet changes and lifestyle habits, butin additionto those shifts.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Carbohydrates and blood sugar.European Centre for Allergy for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF).How to replace dairy products if you have a milk protein allergy – tips and recipes.Bian X, Chi L, Gao B, Tu P, Ru H, Lu K.The artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium affects the gut microbiome and body weight gain in CD-1 mice.PLoS One. 2017 Jun 8;12(6):e0178426. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0178426American Diabetes Association.Fats.American Heart Association.Saturated fat.Additional ReadingPurohit V, Mishra S.The truth about artificial sweeteners – Are they good for diabetics?Indian Heart J. 2018;70(1):197-199. doi:10.1016/j.ihj.2018.01.020Weber KS, Simon MC, Strassburger K, et al.Habitual fructose intake relates to insulin sensitivity and fatty liver index in recent-onset type 2 diabetes patients and individuals without diabetes.Nutrients. 2018;10(6):774. doi:10.3390/nu10060774

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Carbohydrates and blood sugar.European Centre for Allergy for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF).How to replace dairy products if you have a milk protein allergy – tips and recipes.Bian X, Chi L, Gao B, Tu P, Ru H, Lu K.The artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium affects the gut microbiome and body weight gain in CD-1 mice.PLoS One. 2017 Jun 8;12(6):e0178426. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0178426American Diabetes Association.Fats.American Heart Association.Saturated fat.Additional ReadingPurohit V, Mishra S.The truth about artificial sweeteners – Are they good for diabetics?Indian Heart J. 2018;70(1):197-199. doi:10.1016/j.ihj.2018.01.020Weber KS, Simon MC, Strassburger K, et al.Habitual fructose intake relates to insulin sensitivity and fatty liver index in recent-onset type 2 diabetes patients and individuals without diabetes.Nutrients. 2018;10(6):774. doi:10.3390/nu10060774

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Carbohydrates and blood sugar.European Centre for Allergy for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF).How to replace dairy products if you have a milk protein allergy – tips and recipes.Bian X, Chi L, Gao B, Tu P, Ru H, Lu K.The artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium affects the gut microbiome and body weight gain in CD-1 mice.PLoS One. 2017 Jun 8;12(6):e0178426. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0178426American Diabetes Association.Fats.American Heart Association.Saturated fat.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Carbohydrates and blood sugar.

European Centre for Allergy for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF).How to replace dairy products if you have a milk protein allergy – tips and recipes.

Bian X, Chi L, Gao B, Tu P, Ru H, Lu K.The artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium affects the gut microbiome and body weight gain in CD-1 mice.PLoS One. 2017 Jun 8;12(6):e0178426. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0178426

American Diabetes Association.Fats.

American Heart Association.Saturated fat.

Purohit V, Mishra S.The truth about artificial sweeteners – Are they good for diabetics?Indian Heart J. 2018;70(1):197-199. doi:10.1016/j.ihj.2018.01.020Weber KS, Simon MC, Strassburger K, et al.Habitual fructose intake relates to insulin sensitivity and fatty liver index in recent-onset type 2 diabetes patients and individuals without diabetes.Nutrients. 2018;10(6):774. doi:10.3390/nu10060774

Purohit V, Mishra S.The truth about artificial sweeteners – Are they good for diabetics?Indian Heart J. 2018;70(1):197-199. doi:10.1016/j.ihj.2018.01.020

Weber KS, Simon MC, Strassburger K, et al.Habitual fructose intake relates to insulin sensitivity and fatty liver index in recent-onset type 2 diabetes patients and individuals without diabetes.Nutrients. 2018;10(6):774. doi:10.3390/nu10060774

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Glucerna Product Lines#

Glucerna Original Shakes#

Glucerna Hunger Smart Shakes#

Glucerna Protein Smart Shakes#

Glucerna Original Nutrition Facts#

How Glucerna May Help Diabetes#