Your health care team will be able to help you best understand the relationship between your blood sugar and the foods you eat. They can guide you in making adjustments in the amounts and types of foods you eat at meals, as well as any medication adjustments to best control your blood sugar results. Blood sugar monitoring before and one to two hours after consuming a meal is the best way to determine how foods are affecting your blood sugar. Glucerna® products help minimize peaks in blood sugar because of their specialized carbohydrate blend. Exercise, weight management, and meal planning are key components of your diabetes management plan, along with following your doctor's advice on blood sugar medication and how often you should monitor your blood sugar. Our meal plans are a step in the right direction, and we encourage you to print the meal plans and share them with your health care professional at your upcoming appointment.

The amount of carbohydrates at meals and snacks depends on your calorie level and activity level, and on any diabetes medications you might be taking. For example, a dinner might be 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates, and a snack might be between 15 and 30 grams of carbohydrates. We suggest following up with your health care professional.

We do not recommend that someone with diabetes eliminate carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are an important energy source and provide a variety of nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Please check with your doctor to help you understand additional ways to control your blood sugar, such as exercise, assessing your weight management goals, and assessing medication needs, if you currently are taking medications for your blood sugar. You also may consider following a lower calorie level, which would decrease the amount of carbohydrates.

Fruit is a very good choice which provides vitamin, mineral and fiber. The portion size and quantity you eat should be selected wisely because fruit contains carbohydrate, which will raise you blood sugar levels. For example, 12 cherries are considered a serving (15 grams of carbohydrates) and one medium peach is a serving. When choosing canned fruits look for those packaged in juice or light syrup. It might be helpful to spread your fruit intake out over the course of the day, and then check your blood sugar about one to two hours after eating to see how it is affected. Please check with your health care professional if you continue to be concerned about your blood sugar levels.

Calorie-containing beverages such as fruit juices, soft drinks, and sweetened teas can cause a fairly rapid rise in blood sugar, which is why they tend to be avoided. We encourage you to count these as food items if you are adding them to your meal plans. In other words, be sure to read the label of a fruit juice or other sweetened/sugar-containing beverage that you want to add and consider replacing that juice with a comparable menu item.

Non-caffeinated drinks, especially water, are best for hydration, especially in hot weather and while exercising. If you do drink diet soda with caffeine, practice moderation.

A meal replacement is a food that you eat in place of a meal or part of a meal to help control your calorie intake and thereby manage your weight. The following items may be used as meal replacements:

• Shakes
• Bars
• Ready-to-mix powders
• Prepackaged entrees

Meal replacements are calorie-controlled, and some are packed with nutrients. Consistent portion size and calories take the guesswork out of meal planning. Also, meal replacements are easy to grab when you’re on the go. And, if you have diabetes, meal replacements that are specially made for the unique dietary needs of people with diabetes can help you manage blood sugar spikes.

As part of a calorie-controlled nutrition plan, meal replacements can help you achieve your weight loss goals.

According to the American Diabetes Association, “Use of meal replacements once or twice daily to replace a usual meal can result in significant weight loss.”¹

• ¹American Diabetes Association. Nutrition Principles and Recommendations in Diabetes. Available at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/suppl_1/s36.full

People with diabetes need to be mindful of the number of calories and the amount and type of carbohydrates listed on the nutrition label. A meal replacement for weight loss and blood sugar control should provide appropriate calories (fewer than 350) and healthy carbohydrates. Important nutrients to look for in a meal replacement are protein, unsaturated fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Meal replacements may be used in place of an entire meal or a part of a meal, or instead of high-fat, high-sugar snacks. If needed, calories can be added from food sources such as fruits, vegetables, whole-grain crackers, nuts, fat-free milk, and light yogurt.