Glucerna is a company that makes supplements and meal replacement products for people with diabetes. They produce several food substitutes/supplements in the form of shakes and bars. Their products contain carbohydrates that are designed to be digested by the body slowly. It helps diabetics to control blood sugar by reducing blood sugar spikes.
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Part 1 of 2: Deciding if Glucerna is Right for You
Step 1. Only use Glucerna if you have diabetes
Glucerna can be taken by people with prediabetes, as well as type 1 and 2 diabetes. Glucerna is designed to minimize post-meal spikes in blood sugar, and you may need to adjust your insulin dose and timing the first time you use it. Glucerna is not the right product if you are not a diabetic. Some products that are similar to Glucerna, but designed for people who don't have diabetes include:
- Ensure
- AdvantEDGE
- ZonePerfect
- Check your blood glucose before you take Glucerna and 2 hours after taking it. This is to find out the effect this product has on you. If you must adjust your insulin injection, consult a healthcare professional for instructions.
Step 2. Consult your doctor before taking Glucerna if you have gestational diabetes (diabetes that occurs during pregnancy)
Glucerna has not been tested in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Gestational diabetes should be closely monitored by a doctor for the safety of both mother and baby
Step 3. Consult a pediatrician before you give Glucerna to young children
Glucerna is designed to meet the nutritional needs of adults.
- Glucerna should not be consumed by children younger than 4 years.
- Children aged 4-8 years should only take glucerna if recommended by a doctor.
- Children over 9 years of age can include glucerna in their diet, but must seek doctor's advice.
Step 4. Ask a nephrologist if you have kidney disease
Although you can take Glucerna if you have chronic kidney disease (eg kidney failure), always consult with your doctor to determine if this product is suitable for you.
For people with chronic kidney disease, there are several other products specifically designed for them, such as Suplena and NeprO
Step 5. Avoid glucerna if you have galactosemia
Galactosemia is a condition when you don't have an enzyme that breaks down lactose properly, so it builds up in the blood. Although Glucerna does not contain lactose, never use it if you have this condition.
Step 6. Avoid using Glucerna to treat insulin shock
Insulin shock is a condition when people with diabetes have too much insulin in their blood. This makes the person experience low blood sugar. If not treated quickly, it can lead to a diabetic coma and be life-threatening.
- Glucerna is not effective against these conditions because this product is digested very slowly.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience insulin shock.
- Glucerna has not been tested on people with low blood sugar, but not diabetics (this is called hypoglycemia). If you suffer from hypoglycemia, consult your doctor before using Glucerna.
Part 2 of 2: Including Glycerine Products in Food Designs
Step 1. Consult a doctor to make a food plan with proper nutrition
Your doctor can help you design healthy meals that suit your goals. You may also need to consult a nutritionist.
- For best results, combine Glucerna with a healthy diet that includes complex carbohydrates instead of simple ones.
- Complex carbohydrates are digested more slowly and help keep blood sugar levels stable. Good sources of complex carbohydrates include whole grains, vegetables, legumes, beans, and lentils.
- Don't eat simple carbohydrates, such as refined sugar or refined white flour. These ingredients can make blood sugar spikes sharply.
Step 2. Check the available product options
Glucerna makes nutritional products that are suitable as meal replacements and snacks.
- Check the nutritional information on the packaging to determine which product best suits your needs, based on the number of calories, protein, carbohydrates and other nutrients offered.
- If you suffer from food allergies, make sure the product is safe for you by checking the ingredients.
Step 3. Balance blood sugar between meals with snacks
Glucerna produces snacks in the form of shakes and bars.
- The product is designed to control hunger by providing protein, but without adding calories to the body.
- If you're looking to gain weight, ask your doctor if including Glucerna in your diet might be helpful.
Step 4. Lose weight by consuming meal replacement products in shake form
This shake is full of protein and vitamins to meet the body's nutritional needs, but contains few calories so it can be used for weight loss.
- Products such as the Hunger Smart Shake and Advance Shake can be used to replace meals. This product is made in chocolate and vanilla variants.
- Only use meal replacements under the direction of a doctor. Do not change more than 1 food in a day.
- Make sure you have enough protein. Women should consume about 45 grams of protein a day, while men should get about 55 grams.
- So that you can lose weight effectively, do exercise regularly. Exercising for about 30 minutes a day can increase the number of calories burned and make the body healthier.
