Editor's Note: This is a sponsored post from a SparkPeople advertiser. Whether you want to lose weight or simply eat healthier, enjoying a couple of snacks each day is a smart habit for many people. Eating a planned snack between meals can help curb your hunger and prevent overeating at mealtime while also increasing energy levels when you need a boost. Snacks also offer an additional benefit for people with diabetes by helping to optimize blood glucose control. Snack bars and drinks have become popular because they offer portable, convenient, pre-packaged options especially when people are living on the go. Now people with diabetes have a delicious way to stick to their weight loss plan AND enjoy snack options without worrying about throwing off their blood glucose levels. New Glucerna Hunger Smart Shakes and Snack Bars are specially formulated for people with diabetes. Glucerna Hunger Smart Shakes have 66 percent less sugar and carbs than other leading shakes and 50 percent more protein to help manage hunger. They contain CARB STEADY®, which includes slowly digestible carbohydrates to help minimize blood sugar spikes. They also contain fiber, antioxidant vitamins C, E and A as well as over 20 other vitamins and minerals. Are you skipping breakfast because you are in a hurry? Selecting a Glucerna Hunger Smart Shake might be an on-the-go option to try since eating breakfast is a key strategy for weight management. Do you find yourself hitting the vending machines at 3:00 pm? Having a Glucerna Hunger Smart Bar or Snack Shake on hand as a healthier alternative to an unhealthy vending machine snack might be a winning strategy. In their Evidence Analysis Library, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) states that "Substituting one or two daily meals or snacks with meal replacements is a successful weight loss and weight maintenance strategy." Not all energy bars or weight-loss shakes will meet the needs of people with diabetes, so selecting products designed specifically for diabetics can be an important key to success. It is always best to seek advice from your physician or consult with a registered dietitian when making the decision to include any supplement in your healthy eating plan. Glucerna Hunger Smart Snack Bars Nutrition Information These specially formulated bars are kosher and can be used as a partial meal (add fruit/vegetables and a serving of dairy to round out your meal) or a snack as part of a healthy weight loss plan for people with diabetes. Chocolate Chip Crisp Calories – 140 Fat – 4.5 grams Sodium – 180 mg Potassium – 70 mg Carbohydrate – 20 grams (including 8 grams of sugar alcohols and 5 grams of sugar) Fiber – 3 grams Protein – 10 grams  Chocolate Peanut CrispCalories – 150 Fat – 5 grams Sodium – 200 mg Potassium – 70 mg Carbohydrate – 20 grams (including 7 grams sugar alcohol and 4 grams of sugar) Fiber – 3 grams Protein – 10 grams Glucerna Hunger Smart Shakes Nutrition Information These specially formulated drinks contain chromium picolinate, which has been found to help the body's insulin work better, as well as phytosterols, which have been shown to lower cholesterol in people with diabetes. Hunger Smart Shakes are also gluten free, kosher, and Halal, and are suitable for those with lactose intolerance.  Rich Chocolate (11.5 fl oz/340 mL) Calories – 180 Fat – 8 grams Sodium – 300 mg Potassium – 580 mg Carbohydrate – 16 grams (including 1 gram of Glycerine a low-glycemic carb that functions as a sweetener and 6 grams of sugar) Protein – 15 grams  Homemade Vanilla (11.5 fl oz/340 mL) Calories – 180 Fat – 8 grams Sodium – 300 mg Potassium – 310 mg Carbohydrate – 14 grams (including 1 gram of Glycerine a low-glycemic carb that functions as a sweetener and 6 grams of sugar) Protein – 15 grams Fitting Into a Healthy Eating Plan Many people with diabetes are encouraged to maintain a carbohydrate intake between 30 to 45 grams (2 to 3 servings) per meal for women and 45 to 60 grams (3-4 servings) per meal for men. Both women and men should limit snacks to 15 to 30 grams (1 to 2 servings) of carbohydrates. Hunger Smart products can easily fit within these recommendations when a personally prescribed meal plan is followed for meals and snacks. The number of snacks a person with diabetes should eat during the day depends largely on eating preferences, weight-management goals, and the timing of your major meals. The best way to make sure your diabetes meal plan meets your individual needs is to work with a registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator. These health professionals assess individual nutritional needs and develop a specific plan to meet physical needs, work schedules and activities, medications, health goals, tastes and lifestyle. They can also help you find the best way to incorporate Hunger Smart shakes and snack bars into your personal plan. Since soy isoflavones might not be right for all medical conditions, be sure to discuss consumption recommendations with your health care team as well. The entire line of Glucerna products can be purchased nationwide at pharmacies, grocery stores, and major discount stores. If you would like to try them, click here for a coupon. How do you think products like this will best help you? Are you more concerned with watching your weight or managing your blood sugar levels? |
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