Glucerna (no, this is not an advertisement)

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Permalink Reply by Jade on July 5, 2009 at 10:27pm

i've seen that stuff at the grocery store right by my house!
maybe i'll try the shakes when i have a sweet tooth :)

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on July 5, 2009 at 10:33pm

I checked the ingredients of the Gluerna shakes (chocolate). I can see where it would leave you feeling hungry. There's not much protein--10 grams protein & 27 carbs for 8 oz.. It's basically water & flavoring with vitamins & some minerals tossed in. Lots of sweetener, too. Maltodextrin is the second ingredient. Some nutritional supplement:)

Glucerna Shake — Creamy Chocolate Delight

WATER, CORN MALTODEXTRIN, SODIUM AND CALCIUM CASEINATES, SUCROMALT, GLYCERINE, ENOVA OIL™ (DIACYGLYCEROL OIL), SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, COCOA POWDER (PROCESS WITH ALKAL), FRUCTOSE, LESS THAN 1% OF: CANOLA OIL, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, PLANT STEROL ESTERS, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, HIGH OLEIC SAFFLOWER OIL, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM CITRATE, SOY LECITHIN, POTASSIUM CITRATE, MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, ASCORBIC ACID, CARRAGEENAN, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, FERROUS SULFATE, dI-ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ZINC SULFATE, SUCRALOSE, NIACINAMIDE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, CHROMIUM PICOLINATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, CUPRIC SULFATE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, THIAMINE CHLORIDE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID, BIOTIN, SODIUM MOLYBDATE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, SODIUM SELENATE, PHYLLOQUINONE, VITAMIN D3, AND CYANOCOBALAMIN.

CONTAINS MILK AND SOY INGREDIENTS; GLUTEN- AND LACTOSE-FREE

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on July 5, 2009 at 10:42pm

In case anyone's interested, here are the ingredients for one of the Glucerna snack bars. It's got three kinds of hydrogenated oils!

Junk food marketed for diabetics.

Glucerna Snack Bars — Chewy Chocolate Caramel

CARAMEL (MALTITOL SYRUP, NONFAT MILK, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, CREAM, GLYCERINE, BUTTER, SALT, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, SOY LECITHIN, CARRAGEENAN, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), CRISP SOY NUGGETS (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, RICE FLOUR, MALT, SALT), CHOCOLATE FLAVORED COATING (MALTITOL AND/OR LACTITOL, FRACTIONATED PALM KERNEL OIL, POLYDEXTROSE, COCOA, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SOY LECITHIN, MONOGLYCERIDES, VANILLA, ACESULFAME K), FRUIT AND GRAIN DEXTRINS, MILLED RICE, CORN MALTODEXTRIN, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, LESS THAN 2% OF THE FOLLOWING: GLYCERINE, CELLULOSE GEL (CELLULOSE GUM, GUAR GUM), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, PEANUT BUTTER (GROUND PEANUTS, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL [COTTONSEED, RAPESEED], SALT), GUAR GUM, dl-ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ASCORBIC ACID, BETA-CAROTENE AND CHROMIUM CHLORIDE.

CONTAINS MILK, SOY, AND PEANUT INGREDIENTS; MANUFACTURED IN A FACILITY THAT PROCESSES EGGS, TREE NUTS, AND WHEAT.

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Permalink Reply by rainbowgoddess on July 6, 2009 at 5:31pm

"Junk food marketed for diabetics"? Well, what would you prefer -- an Oh Henry bar? That's what I'd normally eat for a snack if I get hungry, especially when I'm at work. I figure this may not be the healthiest thing in the world, but if it satisfies my craving for a snack without sending my blood sugar through the roof, then it's not totally bad.

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on July 6, 2009 at 8:57pm

My comment was directed that something billed as a nutrition bar is full of junk. Sprinke in some vitamins & minerals & poof it's allegedly healthy. If your only choices are this or a candy bar, then it's the lessor of two evils, but there are other snack options that won't send you high.

Higher protein will stave off hunger.You can make your own protein shakes using whey isolate protein powder. Hemp protein powder is also great. I avoid soy because of thyroid problems, but there's soy protein powder also if this doesn't bother you. These will be lower carb & healthier than packaged drinks. I have protein shakes for lunch because it's easier with my schedule. Most unflavored protein powders are 1-2 carbs per scoop (1/3 cup). One cup unsweetened almond milk (2 carbs), 1 TBS cocoa powder (3 carbs) or any flavoring & sweetener. At 5 carbs per drink, you can several & not come close to the carb content of other drinks These protein powders dissolve quickly in a jar & shaken. Thick, yummy & satisfying.

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Permalink Reply by rainbowgoddess on July 7, 2009 at 3:13am

I don't have the time or the equipment to make fancy shakes at work. For that matter, nor do I have the equipment at home (I don't own a blender and don't have the wherewithal to buy one at the moment.) What I was saying about "this or an O Henry" is that when I'm at work, I get bored and hungry in the middle of the afternoon, and it's a big temptation to wander over to the corner store on my coffee break to satisfy my chocolate craving. One of these would satisfy my chocolate craving without sending my BG through the roof -- or causing me to take an extra-large bolus to cover it, thereby risking sending my BG in the opposite direction. Probably fewer calories than an O Henry, too.

I'm not talking about eating these things for every meal or even eating them every day. They cost too much to eat them every day, especially when I don't have a job at the moment. I'm not working at the moment, and I don't get the munchies in the afternoon when I'm not at work (unless I've had nothing but those shakes all day!) But I think they'd be an option for the mid-afternoon munchies when I'm working.

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on July 7, 2009 at 9:34am

You don't need a blender. Just a jar with a lid & shake it up. What I wrote above: "These protein powders dissolve quickly in a jar & shaken." You mentioned that you'd have to be on liquid meals because of your dental work, so I was offering a higher protein alternative that wouldn't leave you hungry & could be a meal replacement. Less expensive than buying packaged ones also. I mistakenly thought you were asking for suggestions.

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Permalink Reply by rainbowgoddess on July 6, 2009 at 5:33pm

I wonder if a high-protein drink would work better. There's another brand of shakes that makes a high-protein shake, but it's not specifically a "diabetic" shake. I still need more dental work, so I figure I'm going to be on a liquid diet for a while.

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Permalink Reply by nel peach on July 6, 2009 at 7:42pm

Unless you want to experiment ...stick to what you know ...

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Permalink Reply by nel peach on July 5, 2009 at 10:46pm

I use the Glucerna stuff when in marathon training for longer distances and use it during the marathon (I mean half M.) ...my only concern : it is a bit gassy ...I cut the bar in little squares , eat a small chunk every 20 min. and do not have to bolus , because of the exercise and find it filling . I like to have a can of liquid on hand when travelling ...just in case.Ingredients content probably no worse then other prepared foods ...and will not make it my habit to eat regularly .

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Permalink Reply by Terrie8 on July 5, 2009 at 10:59pm

I haven't tried the shakes but I do take a Glucerna bar with me occasionally when I'm away from home, to keep my sugars more stable.

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Permalink Reply by Teena on July 6, 2009 at 1:05am

I have had Glucerna shakes when I was recuperating from a back accident last year. I lost about 40 lbs since from the time I left the hospital. The doctor gave the shake to supplement my meals. It never raise my blood sugar. I took it for about 4 months and it tasted pretty good. Another shake they prescribed to me was "Nutren"(by Nestle).

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