How to Use Glucerna

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: August 18, 2024 Fact Checked

Glucerna is a company that produces meal replacement foods and supplements for people with diabetes. They have several shakes and nutrition bars to choose from. Their products are designed to contain carbohydrates that your body will digest slowly. This helps diabetics manage their blood sugar by reducing blood sugar spikes.^{[1]
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Part 1

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Determining if Glucerna is Right for You

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Consider Glucerna only if you have diabetes. Glucerna can be used by people with prediabetes, type 1, and type 2 diabetes. Glucerna is made to minimize blood sugar spikes after a meal, and you may need to adjust the dose and timing of insulin when you first start using it. If you do not have diabetes, Glucerna is not right for you. Other products are similar but designed for people without diabetes:^{[2]
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- Monitor your blood glucose before you have Glucerna and 2 hours after you consume it to determine how you’re affected by it. If you need to adjust your insulin injections, consult with a health care professional for guidance.
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Consult your doctor before taking Glucerna if you have gestational diabetes. Glucerna has not been tested in women who are pregnant or nursing.
- Gestational diabetes should be closely monitored by a doctor for the safety of the mother and the baby.
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Discuss Glucerna with a pediatrician before giving it to a child. Glucerna has been designed for the nutritional needs of adults.
- Children younger than four should not consume Glucerna products.
- Children four to eight should only consume Glucerna products if recommended by a doctor.
- Children over nine can include Glucerna products in their meal plans when under the care of a doctor.
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Discuss using CIucerna with a nephrologist if you have kidney disease. While you can use Glucerna if you have a chronic kidney disease, such as renal failure, you should still reach out to a doctor to see if it’s right for you.^{[3]
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- There are other products made specifically if you have chronic kidney disease, like NeprO and SupIena.
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Avoid Glucerna if you have galactosemia. Galactosemia is when you don’t have enzymes that break down lactose properly so it starts building up in your blood. Even though Glucerna is lactose-free, you shouldn’t use it if you have this condition.
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Do not use Glucerna products to treat insulin shock. Insulin shock occurs when diabetics have too much insulin in their blood, and this causes low blood sugar. If not treated immediately, it can lead to a diabetic coma and even be fatal.^{[4]
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- Glucerna products are not an effective treatment for this condition because they are digested too slowly to be effective.
- If you have insulin shock, get medical help immediately.
- Glucerna has not been tested in people who suffer from low blood sugar, but don’t have diabetes (called hypoglycemia). If you have hypoglycemia, consult your doctor before using Glucerna products.

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Including Glucerna Products in Your Meal Plan

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Consult your doctor to make a nutritional plan that is right for you. Your doctor will help you create a plan that is both healthy and meets your goals.^{[5]
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- For best results, pair Glucerna products with a healthy diet that includes complex, rather than simple, carbohydrates.
- Complex carbohydrates are digested more slowly and will help you to maintain steady blood sugar levels. Whole-grains, vegetables, beans, peas, and lentils are excellent sources of complex carbohydrates.
- Avoid simple carbohydrates like refined sugars and processed white flour. They are more likely to cause your blood sugar to spike.
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Examine the different product options. Glucerna makes products that provide nutrient profiles suitable for snacks and meal replacements.^{[6]
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- Examine the nutritional information to see which products best suit your needs according to the number of calories, carbohydrates, protein, and other nutrients they offer.
- If you have food allergies, read the ingredients to make sure the products are safe for you.
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Even out your blood sugar between meals with snacks. Glucerna offers snack bars and snack shakes.^{[7]
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- These products are designed to help you manage hunger by supplying protein without loading you up with calories.
- If you are looking to gain weight, ask your doctor whether adding Glucerna products into your diet could help.
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Lose weight using the meal replacement shakes. These shakes are high in vitamins and proteins to keep your body nourished, yet low in calories so you can lose weight.^{[8]
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- The Advance Shakes and Hunger Smart Shakes can be used as meal replacements. They come in chocolate and vanilla.
- Only use meal replacements when supervised by a doctor. Do not replace more than one meal a day.
- Make sure you are getting enough protein. Women should get about 46 grams a day and men should aim for around 56 grams.
- To lose weight more effectively, add regular exercise to your schedule. 30 minutes of exercise per day will increase the calories that you burn and make you feel healthier.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Is it okay to drink this if you have high blood sugar?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

No, I would recommend you take your medication and get your blood sugar under control before you consumed any type of dietary supplement.

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I have type 2 diabetes. Should I take a Glucerna after eating a banana split?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

No. I would not recommend that you take a Glucerna Shake after a banana split.

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Question

Do I take Glucerna with meals or between meals?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Glucerna product information states that you can use Glucerna products anytime to substitute meals, as part of meals, or as snacks. You can use Glucerna products as quick on-the-go breakfasts or bring them to work for convenient snacks or lunches. However, because the product has many artificial ingredients, such as sugar alcohols and sweeteners, the product should be used judiciously and best if under medical supervision as part of a diabetes management plan.

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