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
night-time 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. |
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