MANAGING YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS
The foods that you eat are a major component of your blood sugar management program. If you are taking your medicine but still eating a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates, you will have difficulty maintaining healthy glucose levels. When you check your blood sugar levels throughout the day, there are different goal levels depending on what you have been doing before checking it. The following are considered to be ideal blood sugar levels for diabetics:
- When you are fasting, your blood sugar should be under 100 mg/dL
- Prior to a meal, your glucose level should be 70 to 130 mg/dL
- One to two hours after eating, the ideal level is under 180 mg/dL
- At bedtime, your sugar levels should be 100 to 140 mg/dL
- Prior to exercise, your target should be under 100 mg/dL if you are using insulin
- When your doctor runs an A1c test, it should be seven percent or lower
These are general guidelines for diabetics. When you are first diagnosed, your doctor may give you different target numbers. For example, if your blood sugar level was very high when you were diagnosed, your target numbers may be higher than this. However, once you start getting your blood glucose levels under control, they will be more in line with these figures.
THE IDEAL MACRONUTRIENT RATIO FOR DIABETICS
When your doctor prescribes a diabetic diet, the primary focus will be on sugar and carbohydrates. The general population should get about 45 to 60 percent of their calories from carbohydrates. However, some research is suggesting that people with diabetes should aim lower regarding their carbohydrate intake. Your doctor will give you a daily carbohydrate goal that works with your current level of blood glucose maintenance.
When you consume carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into sugar, so they increase blood glucose levels. Simple carbohydrates like sugar and white bread, break down quickly, essentially flooding your body with sugar. Complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains and beans, digest far slower and they contain fiber. You will not get the acute spike and plummet of your blood sugar levels with complex carbohydrates, making them a better choice for managing your sugar levels.
Protein and healthy fats are the other two macronutrients that are important for diabetics. These do not cause significant changes with your blood sugar. However, they are imperative for overall health. The ideal range for protein is 10 to 35 percent of your daily calories. With healthy fats, you should get about 20 to 35 percent of your daily calories from these sources.
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER LIQUID MEAL REPLACEMENTS?
Nestle Resource Diabetic is ideal for several situations. It functions as a meal replacement when you are unable to eat a healthy meal. You can also use it to help you to transition to a diabetes-friendly diet. The manufacturer recommends resource diabetic as a viable meal replacement for breakfast since it allows you to start your day with a lot of critical nutrients without causing any spikes in your blood sugar levels.
Whether your blood sugar levels are managed well, or you are recently diagnosed and working toward an ideal glucose range, this diabetic meal replacement is beneficial. It is also recommended for people who have stress-induced high blood sugar levels and glucose intolerance. If you are prediabetic, your doctor may recommend a diabetic protein powder to help to bring your levels down so that you do not progress to full-blown diabetes.
This diabetic powder can be used orally or via tube feeding. You will add 210 milliliters of water to seven scoops of the powder to create a liquid. Since it is easy to consume, it might also be recommended for diabetics who just had surgery and cannot handle full solid meals during their initial recovery. Since it does contain protein, healthy fats, minerals and vitamins, resource diabetic provides all of the nutritional support needed for this purpose.
WHAT IS THE NUTRIENT BREAKDOWN OF THIS DIABETIC MEAL REPLACEMENT?
This Nestle diabetic meal replacement powder is meant to replace whole meals, so it has a diverse array of nutrients. Each serving gives you approximately 18 percent of your daily protein needs. The protein is 50 percent casein and 50 percent whey protein. You get about 40 percent of your daily fat needs from this supplement. The sources of fat include saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids.
You get approximately 25 grams of carbohydrates with each serving. It also provides 4.5 grams of fiber with each serving. Fiber can help to slow down how fast your body absorbs sugar, helping to keep your blood sugar levels steadier throughout the day. This diabetic nutritional powder has all of the essential nutrients that your body requires each day. It contains three other important nutrients, including taurine, l-carnitine and choline.
L-carnitine can be especially beneficial for people with diabetes. Some research shows that it reduces insulin resistance and may improve sensitivity to insulin, allowing for greater control over your blood glucose levels. One study shows that it may reduce blood sugar when consumed daily. Taurine may have a similar impact on your blood sugar. Research shows that it may reduce fasting glucose levels. Choline might aid in improving your body’s tolerance to both insulin and glucose to help you control your blood sugar levels.
ARE DIABETIC LIQUID MEAL REPLACEMENTS SAFE?
This specific diabetic powder is nutritionally diverse and dense, making it ideal for most people with diabetes. If your doctor recommends that you only use this diabetic liquid meal replacement for a specified amount of time, they will monitor you regularly. It is important that you are getting sufficient calories and consuming this meal replacement as often as your doctor recommends. Since it does not contain a high fiber content, if you are not getting fiber from other sources, your doctor might recommend that you also consume a liquid fiber supplement to get enough of this nutrient.