Diabetes-Friendly Guide to Meal Replacement Protein Drinks for Diabetics

Diabetes is one health condition that lots of people have learned to manage without the fear of death. This is because it is a very common health condition and medical science has developed ways to manage it properly and ensure that it does not lead to death or other more serious health issues. While there are various types of diabetes, the most common is type 2 diabetes. There are lots of links between type 2 diabetes and obesity. Also, for it not to escalate into something more complex, it has to be properly managed.

There are lots of ways to manage diabetes and prevent it from leading to complications. Some of these ways are taking medication and making lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes involve a lot. However, the food that diabetic patients consume is a vital part of lifestyle changes. There are lots of foods that are beneficial to people living with diabetes. One of these foods is meal replacement drinks. Though not the traditional type of food, meal replacement drinks can help the body gets its daily nutritional requirement even if one does not feed on regular meals.

Although a great alternative to food, meal replacement shakes are many and are different. This, therefore, makes it important to know the best meal replacement drinks for diabetes.

Contained in this article are some of the best meal replacement drinks for diabetic patients. Read on to find out what they are.

Best meal replacement drinks for diabetic patients

Glucerna Rich Chocolate Shake 

If you are looking for a perfect meal replacement drink for diabetes and are lactose intolerant, one meal replacement drink you can always rely on is Glucerna. This meal replacement drink is not just perfect for people that are lactose intolerant, it is also gluten-free. While this meal replacement drink is more associated with people that have diabetes, it is not limited for use to people with diabetes. If you are trying to lose some weight, or maintain a healthy weight, you can always depend on Glucerna rich chocolate shake. 

If you have made up your mind to take this drink, you do not have to limit yourself to just one flavor. This is because this meal replacement drink has four flavors. These flavors are Creamy Strawberry, Vanilla, Rich Chocolate, Classic Butter Pecan, and Home Made Vanilla. While Classic Butter Pecan and Creamy Strawberry cannot be gotten in snack-sized portions, the vanilla and the chocolate flavor can be gotten in smaller portions.

Contained in Glucerna rich chocolate shake are 10 grams of protein, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 9 grams of fat, 16 grams of carbohydrates, and 180 calories.

Almased Meal Replacement Drink

Made from soy protein, this meal replacement drink contains a blend of honey enzymes, skim-milk yogurt, and soy protein. It does not come in liquid form, it comes as a powder that can be taken by simply mixing it with water or other liquids. Although this meal replacement shake contains sugar in fairly high amounts, it does not contain excess carbohydrates. 

There are lots of meal replacement drinks for diabetes that are rich in protein. However, of all these meal replacement drinks, Almased meal replacement drink has the highest protein content. This is due to the presence of yogurt and soy. Although this meal replacement drink is great for people with diabetes, it is not ideal for people with kidney diseases. Furthermore, the fact that it is rich in protein is an indication that it will be really filling.

Contained in Almase meal replacement drink are 0.5 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fat (of this 1 gram of fat, 0.5 gram is saturated fat, and the other half, unsaturated fat), 15 grams of carbs, 27 grams of protein, and 180 calories.

Boost Glucose Control

This meal replacement drink was designed to function as a snack. Also, it is a drink that was specially formulated for people with type 2 diabetes. Boost glucose control can be enjoyed by people that are lactose intolerant. It is also free from gluten. Going by this, if you are allergic to gluten and are lactose intolerant, this is one meal replacement drink you should try out.

Boost glucose control contains 7 grams of fat, 16 grams of carbohydrate, and 16 grams of protein. This, therefore, makes it perfect for individuals that are looking to maintain their blood sugar and also drop some weight.

In addition to containing 16 grams of protein, 16 grams of carbohydrates and 7 grams of fat, Boost Glucose control also contains 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 190 calories.

Extend Nutrition Shakes

Created by Francine Ratner Fuafman, MD, present chief medical officer and vice president of global medical, clinical, and health affairs at Medtronic Diabetes, Extend nutrition shakes is a protein shake for diabetes patients. It is a blend of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats and is a great meal replacement drink for people with type 2 diabetes.

You can take Extend nutrition shakes in three different flavors. These flavors are Creamy Vanilla, Rich Chocolate, and Simply Strawberry. Furthermore, it can be taken without the need to go through any process. All you have to do to make this meal replacement drink is to add skim milk or water.

Contained in Extend nutrition shakes are 5 grams of dietary fiber, 1 gram of sugar, 1.5 grams of fat, 12 grams of carbs, 15 grams of protein and 110 calories.

Atkins Shakes

If you are looking to consume a very controlled amount of carbs, you can rely on this meal replacement drink to make that happen. Atkins shakes is one of the meal replacement drinks that have lots of flavors. When purchasing Atkins shakes, there will always be a flavor you love regardless of what your preferences are. Some of the available flavors of Atkins shakes are Strawberry, Mocha Latte, Milk Chocolate Delight, Vanilla, Dark Chocolate Royale, Café Caramel, and Cookies and Crème.

Contained in Atkins shakes are 3 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, 9grams of fat ( of this 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams are saturated fat), 5 grams of carb, 1 5 grams of protein, and 160 calories.

Also Read, Why You Should Start Exercising at Your Teenage Years