Diabetes is a serious health problem. If you suffer from this condition, why not give Glucerna or Nutren Diabetes products a try? For example, research says meal replacement formulas can help. But, among Glucerna and Nutren Diabetes, which is best for diabetics?
It’s not easy to determine if Glucerna Diabetes is better than Nutren Diabetes. Because both products have different ways to address the disease, and ultimately you should use what your doctor recommends.
If taking Glucerna or Nutren products for diabetes sounds scary, read the following article because you may change your mind. At least we will guide you in the correct direction. You will learn more about what they are and how they can help you get better.
Let’s start with Glucerna Diabetes…
What Is Glucerna Diabetes?
Glucerna by Abbott is a famous brand of meal replacement products for people who struggle with type 2 diabetes. However, this doesn’t indicate that those who have pre-diabetes or type 1 diabetes can’t use Glucerna.
Glucerna products meet the nutritional needs of a person with type 2 diabetes. They work as a meal replacement, or you can use them to supplement your diet and keep your weight in control.
But remember, Glucerna is not medicine for blood sugar control. The products work only to help blunt blood sugar response after consumption, i.e. eating.
How Does Glucerna Work?
According to science, Glucerna Diabetes products minimize blood sugar spikes.
Firstly, they contain carbohydrates such as fructose and modified maltodextrin.
Secondly, they are rich in soy fiber, fructooligosaccharides, and maltitol.
These are all low-glycemic carbohydrates that produce low blood glucose responses. Therefore, the glycemic index remains low after you consume a Glucerna Diabetes product.
In addition, Glucerna shakes and bars
contain a total of 28 important minerals and vitamins that help the body remain healthy. Meanwhile, they slowly release their low-carbohydrate blend to help keep blood glucose responses in check.
You can also use them for your gastrointestinal health because they contain plenty of prebiotic fibers too. For your heart health, they are enriched with omega-3 monosaturated and fatty acids.
If you have type 2 diabetes, you must ensure that your whole body remains healthy in the long run. Therefore, addressing this condition with Glucerna Diabetes products is not only about keeping blood glucose levels in check but also about eating healthy.
In other words, Glucerna products are efficient for:
- Keeping blood glucose levels in control.
- Supporting the digestive system.
- Ensuring the heart is healthy.
- Replacing unhealthy meals.
Tip: We previously compared Glucerna with Ensure.
Glucerna Nutritional Facts
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) mentions that an 8-oz can of Glucerna contains 198 calories and the following key nutrients.
|
Protein |
10.9 g |
|
Carbohydrates |
16 g |
|
Fibre |
5.46 g |
|
Total Sugars (including NLEA) |
6.55 g |
|
Total Fat |
7.64 g |
|
Saturated Fat |
0.575 g |
|
Potassium |
436 mg |
|
Iron |
4.9 mg |
|
Calcium |
273 mg |
|
Vitamin A |
409 µd |
|
Vitamin D |
2.73 µg |
|
Vitamin C |
65.5 mg |
|
Vitamin E |
3.62 mg |
|
Folic Acid |
109 µg |
Glucerna products are also 100% gluten-free, so people who are lactose intolerant can use them without any problem.
On the other hand, they contain fructose, sugar alcohol, and artificial sweeteners. Therefore, people with diabetes should make sure they also have a balanced diet when taking them. After all, they help manage diabetes, not control it.
Pros – The Benefits Of Glucerna
Glucerna is the easiest approach to managing carb intake because it’s a tasty alternative to unhealthy meals.
Due to their rich fiber content, Glucerna products help you feel more satisfied and “fuller” after you consume them. For instance, 3 Glucerna shakes are more satisfying and healthier than large poutine.
Cons – The Drawbacks Of Glucerna
Some people with diabetes don’t like Glucerna because they believe shakes or bars can’t live up to the standards of a meal. To clarify, they find highly nutritional and healthy meals to be superior.
Others don’t like that when compared to other similar products, Glucerna ones may cause over-reliance.
Now let’s turn on to Nutren Diabetes….
What Is Nutren Diabetes?
Nutren Diabetes is a low Glycemic Index (GI) powder or shakes that people with diabetes can use as a tasty meal replacements. It provides balanced and complete nutrition while positively impacting blood glucose levels.
Nutren Diabetes works for people with pre-diabetes too. Therefore, you can use it even if your doctor said you don’t have type 2 diabetes yet. After all, you should take precautionary steps against the disease, shouldn’t you?
Tip: Don’t get confused between Nestle Nutren Optimum and Nutren Diabetes. We covered that separately!
However, remember that this product is not a medicine for treating diabetes either. You can use it only to supplement your diet or replace a meal.
How Does Nutren Diabetes Work?
According to this clinical trial, Nutren Diabetes is more efficient than an isocaloric diet at controlling blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Because it is rich in fiber, has special low GI features, and has a good fat ratio, it helps stabilize blood sugar. Furthermore, it contains 30 other essential minerals and vitamins for people with type 2 diabetes to meet their nutritional needs.
Nutren Diabetes is an enteral nutrition formula, so you can buy it without a prescription. However, don’t take it if your doctor says you shouldn’t because it doesn’t work for everyone the same.
If you don’t feel like cooking a meal, you can always use Nutren Diabetes instead. Because it’s nutritious and tasty, this drink helps you feel “fuller” without impacting your glucose levels. At the same time, it increases insulin effectiveness.
Furthermore, here’s how Nutren Diabetes keeps blood sugar levels in control throughout the day because it contains enough whey protein to increase energy levels:
To sum up, here are the main health benefits of Nutren Diabetes…
- Ensuring blood glucose levels are normal.
- Replacing meals for weight management purposes.
- Improving digestion because it’s high in fiber.
- Preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes in people who suffer from pre-diabetes.
Nutren Diabetes Nutritional Facts
One serving of Nutren Diabetes contains the following main ingredients…
|
Protein |
11.3 g |
|
Saturated Fat |
0.99 g |
|
Trans Fat |
0.11 g |
|
Polyunsaturated Fat |
1.76 g |
|
Monounsaturated Fat |
7.15 g |
|
Sugars |
2.63 g |
|
Lactose |
<0.28 g |
|
Dietary Fiber |
4.79 g |
|
Vitamin A |
252 µgRE |
|
Vitamin B2(Riboflavin) |
0.33 mg |
|
Niacin |
4.6 mg |
|
Vitamin B12 |
0.75 µg |
|
Vitamin C |
31 mg |
|
Vitamin E |
2.6 mg?-TE |
Pros – The Benefits Of Nutren Diabetes
Most people with diabetes or pre-diabetes prefer using Nutren because they don’t have time to prepare their meals or go out to eat.
Moreover, this product offers them a nutritious and tasty alternative to snacks. Meanwhile, it helps them keep their blood glucose levels in check.
The company making Nutren Diabetes is Nestlé, which is well-known and trustworthy too.
Cons – The Drawbacks Of Nutren Diabetes
On the other hand, those who take Glucerna, or other products, say Nutren Diabetes had them experiencing a few mild side effects such as loss of taste and smell, constipation, diarrhea, diminished appetite, nausea, and vomiting.
In short, Nutren may not provide only health benefits for everyone when compared to its competitors.
Conclusion
People with diabetes must control their diet if they don’t want to experience the dangerous effects of their condition. If you are in this situation too, you probably already know how difficult it is to prepare 3 healthy and nutritious meals every day.
Even more, buying the ingredients for dishes that people with diabetes should eat requires taking a lot of money out of their pocket.
Products like Glucerna or Nutren Diabetes are not the most affordable either, but you can surely save a few bucks if you use them as meal replacements.
However, note that they shouldn’t replace food by 100%. In other words, you can use them when on the go or not in the mood to prepare your breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Using a scoring system of 1 to 5, we will now look at each feature of both products to determine which is best for diabetes. Therefore, Glucerna or Nutren Diabetes?
Let’s see…
|
Features |
Glucerna |
Nutren Diabetes |
|
Regulating blood sugar levels |
5 |
4 |
|
Improving digestion |
4 |
5 |
|
Tastiness |
4 |
5 |
|
Weight management |
3 |
4 |
Now that you have read the article above, you can hopefully make an informed decision about what diabetes product to use. On the other hand, don’t use Glucerna or Nutren Diabetes if your doctor said you shouldn’t.
After all, there are many other alternatives on the market. If you are suffering from pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, talk to your doctor before you start using any supplement.
Glucerna or Nutren Diabetes are the most popular and tastiest meal replacements to try when you have diabetes, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give other products attention as well.
Thanks for reading…
