The difficulty is in defining what goes into a pre diabetes diet
But what is a healthful diet and what foods offer the best protection against diabetes?  The news daily brings us warnings about foods once reported to be the “new miracle” turning out to be less than that and offering a dozen others in their place.  Not even nutritional experts seem to be able to provide a clear picture of what may be best for us to eat — whether we are at risk for pre-diabetes or not.

However, a little common sense when it comes to dietary choices goes a long way. Always endeavor to get more fruits and vegetables than you’ve been accustomed to.  Concentrate on temping your palette and your eye by choosing a variety of fruits and vegetable across the color spectrum.

Avoid starchy vegetables such as potatoes, you don’t have to give up your spuds entirely but be sure to also include non-starchy options such as broccoli, spinach, green beans and carrots with your meals.

Whenever possible substitute whole grains — in cereals and breads especially, but also opt for brown rice instead of white, and in pastas, try the flavorful whole grain offerings the next time you make spaghetti.

Beans, kidney beans and pinto beans especially, and lentils are powerhouse sources of protein and are also loaded with essential vitamins and minerals, work them into your diet several times a week for optimal effect.

Choose lean meats, beef and pork are perfectly acceptable when they come from the less fatty cuts of the animals. Increase the amount of fish you consume, the omega 3 fats in fish have proven health benefits beyond diabetes prevention, they also guard against heart disease and aging.

Dairy offers much needed calcium and vitamin D and is perfectly permissible in a pre-diabetes diet — but choose low fat and skim milks, low fat yoghurt and low fat cheeses.
Eliminate sugary sodas from your diet, resolve to drink water whenever possible and when only a soda will do, zero calorie diet options.

When cooking, avoid animal fats and tropical oils. Opt for liquid oils such as  olive, canola, corn, cottonseed, flaxseed, grapeseed, safflower, soybean, sunflower, and keep even their use at minimum.

Keep your sweet tooth under control and if you can’t eliminate overly processed, sugary treats from your diet, make an honest effort to cut them down.  Try lower sugar, lower fat dessert options if you must indulge in cookies, pies and cakes and if ice cream is your downfall — stick to the lower fat options or try frozen yoghurt instead.

Always keep in mind that even the healthiest diet can be undone by short-term over indulgence, consistency in following a good pre diabetes diet is what’s important.  Exercise portion-control at all meals and keep snacks to fiber rich low calorie options that carry you through to your next meal without spiking your blood sugar. Don’t get into the habit of  regularly having a snack bar from the candy counter.

In conclusion
In reality, a good pre diabetes diet is a good diet for almost anyone. The word “diet” need not mean privation and denial! With a mind towards making food choices count for health and aiming for variety to appeal to the senses of taste, smell and sight, a healthy pre diabetes diet can truly be an enjoyable experience!

But first a brief reference to blood sugar levels in general
When speaking of blood sugar levels we are referring to the amount of glucose, a simple form of sugar, that is present in the human body. The sugar is obtained from the foods we eat, especially the carbohydrates in the food. Carbohydrates are one of the primary nutrients, together with Proteins, Fats, Vitamins, Minerals, and Water. Carbohydrates are composed of many types of sugars that most people have heard of — such sugars as glucose, lactose, galactose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose.

Together with the other constituents of food, the various complex sugars in the carbohydrates are broken down during the digestion process into the simpler sugar called glucose which then enters the bloodstream. Glucose is the main source of energy in the human body and is needed by the body’s cells. The circulating blood stream delivers the glucose to the cells.

The absorption of glucose into the cells requires the assistance of a hormone called insulin, produced by an organ in the human body called the pancreas. And sometimes the pancreas becomes unable to consistently produce enough insulin to meet the body’s needs. Without sufficient insulin, the sugar stays mostly in the blood and cannot be taken up by the cells. An additional cause of sugar remaining in the blood is that the cells sometimes become resistant to the insulin that is available.

Normal blood sugar Levels for women
Blood sugars may differ at different times of the day. For example, blood sugar levels may be very low in the morning and they may be very high after a meal. According to the American Diabetes Association, normal blood sugar levels for women and for men who are not diabetic, are less than 100 mg/dL after fasting and less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating a meal. A fasting blood sugar level, a common reference level, refers to the amount of glucose in the blood when a person has not eaten for at least 8 hours. The official normal blood sugar levels may differ slightly in other countries.

Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
A persistent very high level of blood sugar in the bloodstream is referred to as hyperglycemia and a persistent very low level of blood sugar in the bloodstream is called hypoglycemia.

Why should we be concerned about blood sugar levels?
Knowing the blood sugar levels, helps determine a person’s state of health in relation to a health condition called Diabetes. When higher than normal amounts of sugar exists in the blood for long periods of time it is possible, even likely, that the condition known as diabetes is present. Diabetes is a serious disease for which there is no cure and which must be treated by a doctor.

Above normal blood sugar levels for women and colorectal cancer
Very high or low blood sugar levels in women may lead to severe health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and colorectal cancer.
Findings of a recent study of 5000 postmenopausal women, published in the British Journal of Cancer’s November 29 online edition, show that higher than normal blood sugar levels in women are associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer or bowel cancer is cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of cells in the colon or rectum and according to the American Cancer Society, it is the third most frequently diagnosed form of cancer and is also the third leading cause of death from cancer in both women and men.

In conclusion
If you are concerned or just wondering about your blood sugar levels, all it takes to find out about them is a visit to a doctor who can requisition a simple blood test, a blood test that can also determine the levels of many other blood factors and provide valuable information of an individual’s health status.

But first, the many factors involving blood tests and blood sugar levels are explained in more detail below.

A brief explanation about blood sugars
Human beings, and all other animals and other life forms, obtain sugar from the foods they eat. Sugar is an essential source of energy needed to support the metabolic activities performed by the body’s cells that keep us alive.

There are many types of sugar found in the foods we eat each day and all the sugars are carbohydrates, organic compounds comprised of molecules of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. You have probably heard of some of them, sugars such as sucrose, fructose, lactose, and so on. Those are among the more common sugars in the foods that, after being eating and passing through the process of digestion in the stomach, are converted to the simple form of sugar called glucose that is then delivered into the bloodstream.

So, when speaking of normal range blood sugars we really mean, more specifically, blood glucose. A normal range for blood glucose refers to the levels that normally occur in healthy human beings – as opposed to those individuals whose blood sugar levels are affected by sickness and poor health, especially the disease called diabetes. Diabetes is a serious disease in which the body’s normal process of regulating blood sugar levels to within a given safe range has become impaired.

Measuring blood sugars
Blood sugar levels can be measured by a self-administered test or by a clinical test that can be requisitioned by a physician.

Self administered with a Glucose Meter
Blood sugars can be measured with the aid of a simple glucose meter, a portable hand held device typically used by people with diabetes who must monitor their blood glucose levels fairly often. Although not measuring glucose in quite the same way as is done through a clinical blood test, glucose meters usually provide a sufficiently accurate measure of the blood glucose at the time the test is made.

Clinical blood test
The clinical blood test and analysis is more comprehensive, providing information on much more than current blood sugar levels and as such is an important diagnostic tool for doctors. Clinical blood tests are performed at the request of a physician. The blood test is a simple and painless procedure in which a trained technician draws a small sample of blood from a vein in the arm that is then sent for laboratory analysis. The same blood sample can also be used to measure many other factors in addition to blood glucose levels which is why it is a very useful tool for medical diagnosis. A clinical blood test is not normally taken very often, perhaps once per year or so, unless a doctor has reason to reconfirm a test or to more carefully check some particular health condition.

Units of measure
In the United States, blood sugar levels are measured using units of milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) whereas in most other countries the units used are millimoles per liter (mmol/L)

An easy way to convert values to the U.S. system of mg/dL from the non-U.S. system of mmol/L is to multiply the mmol values by a factor of 18. For example 8.5 mmol/L would be equivalent to 153 mg/dL. (8.5 x 18). To convert the other way round, from mg/dL to mmol/L would be to divide the mg/dL values by 18, for example, 108 mg/dL equals 6 mmol/L (108 divided by 18)

Levels fluctuate
Actually, sugar levels in the bloodstream fluctuate during the day, especially affected by the time since food has been consumed, the amount of energy expended in the course of the day’s activities, and by periods of rest and sleep.

The normal range blood sugar levels
For practical purposes of comparison, the blood sugar levels of an individual are usually determined by a blood test that is taken after either a period of 8 hours of not having eaten food, such as in the morning after a night’s sleep, called a fasting blood test, or at a time of 2 hours after eating a meal, called a post-prandial blood test. Not everyone rises at the same time in the morning or eats meals at the same time during the day of course.

For that reason, for practical purposes of comparison, it is customary to define the levels that would normally occur at times of the day related to the individual’s personal activities rather than at specific hourly times.

Fasting
The first time of the day to test would be soon after not having eaten any food for a period of about 8 hours, referred to as a fasting level that would typically be in the morning after a night’s sleep.

A normal range blood glucose level is 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L)

Post Prandial, 2 hours after a meal

Another important time to test to determine whether blood sugars are in the normal range is 2 hours after eating a regular meal.

A normal glucose level 2 hours after a meal is less than 140 mg/dL (<7.8 mmol/L)

Random test
The healthy body efficiently manages blood sugar levels and a test made “at random” more than 2 hours after a meal would normally provide a blood glucose range in the low to mid 100s, depending somewhat on the type of food eaten during a recent time period. For comparison, a person with diabetes might well have a blood-glucose content of 200 mg/dl or higher.

A normal range blood glucose level is about  70 to 125 mg/dL (4 to 7.0 mmol/L)

There are several other clinical tests that can be made, especially when diabetes or prediabetes is suspected.

The A1c (glycosylated hemoglobin) test
One of the most important of these is known as the Hemoglobin A1c, or A1c for short. And the test is sometimes referred to as the Glycosylated hemoglobin blood test. In simple terms, the A1c test provides a measurement, in terms of a percentage, of the number of hemoglobin molecules in the blood that have glucose attached to them.

A1c, glycosylated hemoglobin normal levels are less than 6% of total red blood cells

The A1c test is important because it determines the average blood sugar levels that have existed over a period of several weeks prior to the blood being taken. This is made possible because the millions of red blood cells produced by the body every second have an individual lifespan of approximately several weeks.

Abnormal blood sugar levels can occur
Temporary health conditions can cause temporarily abnormal levels of glucose in the blood. For that reason, if a blood test shows higher than normal glucose levels, a doctor would probably wish to have tests performed on more than one occasion in order to determine the real situation.

For more information on the diseases caused by blood sugars above the normal range, see Type-2 Diabetes and Prediabetes.

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Statistics provided by the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet that was released in January of this year inform us that over 60% of nontraumatic amputations of lower limbs occur in people with diabetes.

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The case for engaging in regular exercise
Generally, leg or foot amputation may be caused by trauma due to accidents, vascular diseases, tumors or congenital disorders. Among the major sources of amputations mentioned above, amputation resulting from vascular diseases may be prevented. Amputation usually is the result when there is inadequate blood circulation in the body. For leg and foot amputation, the reason is always due to infection to peripheral vascular diseases.

Simple Tips to avoid peripheral vascular diseases

First is regular exercise. Regular exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness. It also increases joint flexibility, increases muscle strength and endurance. It also increases the oxygen supply in the blood and promotes good blood circulation. Moreover, it is also proven to cause weight reduction. For adults, regular exercise will help to normalizes glucose tolerance, improves gait and balance, improves cardiovascular function, increases energy, reduces blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, promotes rest and relaxation and improves sleep.

Second is to minimize interruption of the blood flow. For diabetic patients, avoid constricting clothing or socks and ill-fitting shoes in order not to hamper good blood flow and avoid foot pressures. This will eliminate further complications like foot ulcers, gangrene and muscle or bony structure changes. Simple foot boils and blisters may lead to serious infections such as gangrene. As per study, diabetic foot complications are the leading cause for non-traumatic lower extremity amputations. For this purpose, physicians advised the use of diabetic socks for men to protect feet and toes against complications. The sock is particularly designed to prevent moisture from setting in which would cause skin infection to minor skin irritations.

Third is to avoid risk of tissue injury or skin breaks. Patients with diabetes experienced slow healing of wounds. It is necessary therefore, that they should protect their feet against unnecessary injuries. Avoid going barefoot, use diabetic socks for men when at home. It is comfortable and designed primarily to protect the feet. It is seamless and non-binding to protect the toe from irritation and pressure.

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And what makes me think that chocolate is good for my diabetes?
From recent research carried out in the U.K. it appears that chocolate really is beneficial. Published on 29 August, 2011 in the British Medical Journal were the results and conclusions of a meta-analysis, the objective of which was to evaluate the association of chocolate consumption with the risk of developing cardiometabolic disorders.

A meta-analysis, as its name implies, is a review and analysis of the results of earlier relevant studies carried out on the given subject. Cardiometabolic disorders include heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, among others. In this particular meta-analysis, data was derived from seven previous studies involving a combined 114,009 participants.

It was noted that the results obtained did corroborate those of previous meta-analyses of experimental and observational studies into the subject. Studies based on different populations that showed a similar association between the consumption of chocolate and cocoa related to cardiometabolic disorders.

The actual amounts of chocolate eaten by the 114,009 individuals were not identical, they differed in quantity and in type and form of chocolate, including chocolate bars, biscuits, and beverages.

The study’s conclusions
However, without going into the details, the conclusion of interest is that the participant who consumed the most chocolate, chocolate of any sort, dark, milk, or white chocolate, were associated with a 37% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and 29% reduced risk of stroke compared to those who consumed the lowest amounts of chocolate and cocoa items.

Comment and caution
While this review of previous studies into the effects of chocolate consumption is encouraging, especially for a sweet loving diabetic, obviously much more study is really needed. It appears to help lower the cardiometabolic risk factors and it is hoped that chocolate could be available with less sugar and fat than is currently the case. But common sense tells us that moderation should be exercised.

I say that as I break off another square of chocolate, feeling guilty and reminded of the Lewis Carroll poem of the Walrus and the Carpenter wherein the tearful pair, saddened that the young oysters were about to be eaten, sorted out those of the largest size!

“I weep for you,” the Walrus said:
“I deeply sympathize.”
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

In conclusion
If you really want to avoid diabetes and its complications, check out Prevention is the Answer.

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Types of diabetes: There are three main types of diabetes, referred to respectively as Type-1, Type-2, and Gestational Diabetes, all characterized by higher than normal blood sugar levels. Types 1 and 2 are incurable forms of the disease while gestational diabetes is normally a temporary condition that affects only a small percentage of women when they may become pregnant. More than 90% of all diabetes cases fall into the type-2 category. The following discussion refers to type-2 diabetes and its related condition, prediabetes.

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Persistent high blood sugar levels are the classic warning signs of diabetes and something to be very concerned about if you have been advised by your doctor that your blood sugars fall into that category.

It is unlikely that a person would know whether their blood sugars are high without having visited a doctor who would have sent them for a standard blood test from which the blood sugar levels that have existed for the prior three months can be determined.

In such a case, after reviewing a patient’s blood test results, the doctor would certainly advise the patient of the pertinent facts, warn them of the consequences and further advise them on what to do to deal with the situation. More than likely, future treatment under the care of the doctor will be necessary.

The good news: High blood sugars can be treated and diabetes prevented

When first learning that high blood sugar levels exist, it does not necessarily mean that diabetes is present, at least not yet, but left untreated the risk of becoming fully diabetic is very high. But the fortunate thing is that the high blood sugar condition can be reversed, and doing so is essential in order to avoid a greatly diminished quality of life in the future because once diabetes becomes a reality the damage is done, there is no cure and no reversal for the disease.

The bad news: Sometimes it is too late for prevention

However, it is also necessary to add that many times when that first blood test is obtained the patient will already be diabetic — but just not aware of the fact. It happened to me that way, that was my own personal experience. Like many of my fellow diabetics, I was diagnosed immediately after having a routine annual checkup, I never knew until then that high blood sugar levels had been circulating throughout my body for a long time.

From the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet
The discovery without prior warning that a person has diabetes is not unusual. In fact, in January of this year, the American Diabetes Association and other health authorities released a document titled “The 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet” which reported that there are an estimated 7 million people in the United States who have diabetes and are unaware of that fact. Even more alarming is the estimate that there are tens of millions more who have the condition referred to as Prediabetes.

But Prediabetes is reversable
Prediabetes, as its name suggests, frequently precedes diabetes proper. Both diabetes and prediabetes are conditions involving high blood sugar levels but the major difference is that prediabetes can be reversed and need not necessarily lead to diabetes.

Reversing prediabetes with a change in lifestyle
It is thought that most diabetics once suffered from and passed through the phase now referred to medically as prediabetes. Reversing prediabetes usually requires commitment to a change in lifestlyle. Like most people with diabetes, those with prediabetes are frequently overweight and follow a sedentary way of life.

To lower the existing high blood sugars to normal, or at least to a safer level, and to avoid the inevitable path to diabetes, it is imperative to make lifestyle changes. Most frequently those involve the implementation of dietary changes and the addition of regular exercise, where possible and appropriate for the individual. In some instances prescription medications may be necessary.

It is important to note that the changes required to prevent prediabetes are much the same as the changes and treatment for diabetes – so if those changes will be required anyway, it makes much better sense to make them before diabetes takes hold.

And here is why you must avoid diabetes:

Statistics from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet indicate the following under the heading of Complications of Diabetes:

Heart disease and stroke

• The risk of having a stroke is 2 to 4 times greater among people with diabetes
• Heart disease death rates are 2 to 4 times higher in people with diabetes compared to non-diabetic people. In diabetic adults of 65 years and older, heart disease is the primary cause of death
• Most adult diabetics suffer from high blood pressure – usually requiring medication

Blindness

• Diabetes is the major cause of all new cases of blindness among adults from 20 to74 years of age.
• In a recent 3 year period, 2005 to 2008, over 4 million Americans with diabetes who were aged 40 years or older had diabetic retinopathy, which is damage to the eye than can lead to blindness or severe loss of vision.

Kidney disease

• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. Many people with diabetes depend on kidney dialysis to survive or require a kidney transplant to survive.

Diabetic Neuropathy — Nervous system diseas

• About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage caused by the excess levels of blood sugar that damage tissues and organs as it circulates in the bloodstream. It is difficult to treat and can cause significant discomfort – as it does in my own life.

Amputation

• More than 60% of non-traumatic amputation of lower-limbs occur in people with diabetes.
• In 2006, in the United States, approximately 65,700 non-traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed in people with diabetes.

In closing
Please check out the scenario, based on my personal experience, of what typically happens when you first hear from your doctor that you have type-2 diabetes. It can be found together with diabetic diet related topics on our companion website at Diabetic Food List.

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The Diabetic Diet
If you are a diabetic patient, you are likely following some type of diabetic diet to help you live with this common and potentially dangerous condition. Diabetes affects over 25 million people in the United States alone, and millions across the globe, but does it mean we know how to deal with the disease effectively?

Turns out that some of the tips and recommendations that you’ve been given, instead of making you feel better, may actually be contributing to your high blood sugar levels and various diabetes symptoms and signs. One such recommendation that could be questioned is to follow the traditional food pyramid that is often recommended for everyone, including people with diabetes. [See Editor's Note below re the position of the American Diabetes Association on this matter].

I’m sure you are familiar with that food pyramid: it contains complex carbohydrates (grains, cereals, pastas and breads) as its base, followed by fruits and vegetables; then milk, dairy and protein (meat); topped with sweets, fats and other foods. However, let’s look at some of its components more closely to see if there is anything that we can perhaps be doing better.

There is plenty of research that proves that the best foods for overall health – including healthy blood sugar levels – are fresh fruits, vegetables and greens. These foods should probably be the base of the pyramid. Complex carbohydrates are the second most important food group. You just need to make sure that you only buy whole grain products – including breads, pastas, cakes, rice, etc. White flour products, white rice, and all other processed grains are not healthy choices for anyone with diabetes.

Milk, dairy and protein is a controversial group. There is plenty of research that suggests that we should limit the consumption of animal foods to only once or twice a week, or – better yet- to eliminate them completely from our menu. Just read “The China Study” by J. Campbell, or any of Dr. J. Fuhrman books. You may be one of the people who are unwilling to sacrifice meat even for your health, but perhaps if you can just limit the consumption for a couple of weeks and see if it makes a difference can be a good idea to start?

The sweets, fats and other processed foods should be totally eliminated or only eaten sparingly, whether you are a diabetic or not.

Of course, just dietary changes are not enough. You need to make sure you get plenty of physical activity every day. For more tips, visit normalbloodsugarlevelchart.com.

Editor’s Note: In a brief message that can be found at Diabetes Food Pyramid, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that: “The diabetes food pyramid is no longer used by the American Diabetes Association as a meal planning tool”.

The ADA suggests other approaches to manage a diabetic diet, including the plate method and carbohydrate counting. There are, of course, other ways that might be appropriate for differing personal tastes.

From my own experience, I realize that it is  not always easy to find an appropriate diabetic diet that suits an individual’s personal tastes and preferences. I have suggested approaches to building a suitable diet at our companion websites that you may be interested in, they can be found at Diabetic Menu Guide and Diabetic Food List.

There are two major problems that diabetics can suffer from in their feet, damage to the peripheral nerves and to the arteries. These conditions are the result of high levels of glucose and insulin existing in the blood for a prolonged period of time, generally for some years. Combined, these issues are very serious.

When you can’t feel your feet it becomes much easier to injure them. Sores can form from scratches or minor injuries to the feet — or before you even feel that you’ve broken skin. If you are walking barefoot you could easily cut your foot and not realize it. If your foot is too tight in your shoe you could develop a sore due to a pressure point you didn’t know existed. For those that don’t have diabetes any of these problems are felt right away and adjustments are made to eliminate irritation and clean open wounds; with diabetics this is not so and wounds grow large and unwieldy.

Despite what happens to the foot as far as injuries are concerned your blood supply should help your feet heal. If you have an infection antibiotics are delivered via the circulatory system. But if your blood flow is slowed or blocked due to diabetic foot complications then the healing process is also slowed.

If a foot injury exists and the blood flow is poor, wounds can fester for a long time. For those where this is the case it is important to know that wearing diabetic shoes can help improve this blood flow problem and help your feet heal themselves. These shoes not only help you to stay active and maintain better blood sugar levels but also allow you to lead a more comfortable life.

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Good news for coffee drinkers !

Consuming too much coffee does not increase high blood pressure risk, says a recent US study, good news for coffee drinkers.

Dr. Liwei Chen, researcher at Louisiana State University School of Public Health based in New Orleans found that people who drank more than five cups of coffee a day were no longer likely to have hypertension compared to people who drank too little coffee. This study contradicted the previous concerns that said excess coffee triggers hypertension.

High blood pressure, or hypertension has been associated with heart disease, stroke and shorter life expectancy. Some scientists also suggested that coffee might actually increase the problem.

However, in a report published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the above outcome is reversed. The report was prepared based on the data pooled from six previous studies, covering 170,000 people.

The report clearly states that usual coffee consumption of more than 3 cups per day was not linked to an increased risk of hypertension compared to less than one cup per day, regardless if the cups were drank at home or while sipping from a travel cup holder.

For the study, the researcher surveyed data from the participants on the question: how many cups of coffee they drank each day (from less than one to more than five) and then followed them for up to 33 years.

Only one out of five participants ultimately developed high blood pressure. Also, the condition was no different for people who said they drank more than five cups of coffee a day and those who said they drank too little.

Lawrence Krakoff, who studies high blood pressure at New York based Mount Sinai Medical Center says he does not think coffee is a risk factor for high blood pressure. “But if people are drinking 12 cups of coffee a day and aren’t sleeping, I assume that’s an important issue”, he adds.

Dr. Chen however also said that the link between coffee consumption and blood pressure is complicated. There is a possibility that it doesn’t work in the same manner for everyone. People with different genetic backgrounds may respond differently to coffee. For some people it may be okay to drink a lot of coffee, but for some others it may not, she added.

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One method to decrease your diabetic symptoms and signs is to drop excess weight. This can also help to balance your blood sugar levels further. Meal replacement shakes designed for diabetics are found to be an extremely helpful method to promote weight reduction should you have diabetes. You’ll need to consult with your physician if you’re thinking about this weight reduction method.

One meal replacement shake for aiding diabetes is called Glucerna, it’s a product that’s offered by the “Ensure” company. A specialized blend of carbs signifies that this product requires a longer time for you to digest. The truth that Glucerna takes
an extended time for you to digest will provide you with a slow sugar release into the bloodstream.

This product, for the most part, is available at retail stores, supermarkets and at pharmacies too. This meal replacement shake for aiding diabetes is available in several flavors which include chocolate, vanilla and pecan butter. An 8 oz. serving of the product features the following.

Calories – 200
Protein – 10 grams
Fiber 5 grams

As an aspect of your weight reduction program, you could make use of this product to exchange 2 meals daily. As well as these meal replacement shakes there are also meal replacement bars designed for diabetics. All these bars provide 150 calories as well as 1 gram of diet-based fiber.

Another product which you can purchase if you’re searching for a meal replacement shake is a product called Boost Glucose Control. This can be used as a food supplement, plus it makes the promise to help with controlling blood sugar. Each 8-oz serving of the product meets 25% of the body’s day-to-day requirements for minerals and vitamins.