Diabetes Snack Bars & Drinks
You've probably observed the growing number of snack bars and drinks for people with diabetes. Bars and drinks intended for people with diabetes may improve blood glucose control or reduce the risk of nighttime hypoglycemia.
The Pluses
These bars and drinks offer a quick and easy snack that may be healthier for you than your current snack choices. They can also be part of a handy on-the-run meal or used before, during or after exercise. As part of a meal, combine a bar with yogurt and piece of fruit or have a slice of toast, crackers or a banana with a drink. A few small studies show that beyond just providing calories and vitamins and minerals, the bars and drinks may slow and lower the rise of blood glucose a few hours after consumption. This effect is due either to a carbohydrate-based ingredient in several products or to the ratio of nutrients. The Choice dm bar contains a resistant starch. The Extend bar contain uncooked corn starch. Both the resistant starch and the uncooked corn starch slow the digestion and absorption of carbohydrate and thereby slow and lower the rise of blood glucose. The Ensure Glucerna bar and drink contains a high fiber content to accomplish this same goal. One more plus - - the bars and drinks might be a better source of many essential vitamins and minerals than your current snack choices.
The Minuses
The bars cost about a dollar a piece and the drinks about $1.50 per can. Perhaps the choice of healthy snack foods and a vitamin and mineral supplement is a more economical option. Also, if you eat these regularly and they lower your blood glucose levels, you'll need to work with your health provider to learn how to adjust your diabetes medicine and fit these products into your eating plan.
| Snacking Smart
Snacking smart means planning low-calorie, low-fat snacks every day, while at the same time not allowing your snacking to turn into another meal. Planning your snack food choices will keep you from overeating at meals. Using snack bars and drinks offers a quick and easy way to keep you from over eating at snack time. Plus, they maybe healthier than your current snack choices. |
To Buy or Not to Buy?
First, check out your options. Find the products that please your taste buds. Next, determine which, if any, help you better manage your blood glucose levels. To determine their effect, check your blood glucose level before eating a bar or drink. Then check your blood glucose level one to two hours and then three to four hours afterward to see the effect. You gain the best insight if you eat the bar or drink alone. If you eat other foods in addition, it will be difficult to determine the effect of the bar or drink.
If you are pleased with the results, keep a supply of the bars and drinks on hand. Use them regularly if they help you manage your blood glucose or for times you need a snack or meal and a healthier choice isn't right nearby.
Don't eat these as extras. They have calories. Also, use them only to prevent low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), not to treat it. The slower acting carbohydrates won't bring blood glucose up as fast as regular carbohydrate containing ingredients. Lastly, don't think of these as a quick fix to blood glucose control, but just as a potentially helpful addition.
Written by: Hope S. Warshow, MMSc, RD, CDE
| New Diet Reduces Glucose By
10%
A recent study on a new diabetes diet was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Thirteen diabetics spent six weeks on the ADA recommended diet and six weeks on the experimental diet. The experimental diet reduced blood sugar levels about 10 percent. The ADA diet is aimed at keeping blood sugar under control, but does not reduce levels. The drop in blood sugar was about the same as what a second pill might have brought. The new diet contained 50 grams of fiber a day, or about twice the amount recommended by the ADA. That is equivalent to seven or eight servings of fruit and vegetables and three of whole wheat or other high fiber grains. |