Are High Calorie Drinks Okay for Diabetics?

Many Diabetics are forced to take a closer look at their overall diets when they first learn that they have Diabetes or when they face a critical health challenge related to Diabetes. Diabetics are acutely impacted by their choices of food and drink. Therefore, Diabetics need to always be aware of what composes their food and beverages in a way that many other people do not need to think about.

There are a handful of common drinks that Diabetics may be accustomed to consuming, but that may not be very healthy. Here's an overview of some popular beverages and how they may impact Diabetics.

Sodas

Every full-sugar or full-corn syrup soda is comprised of a different amount of calories and sugars. However, the popular full-calorie sodas tend to contain the same basic ingredients that make them dangerous for Diabetics to consumer. Remember: Diabetics need to keep their sugar intake low so that their blood sugar levels will not spike to dangerous levels. Therefore, consuming soda may cause blood sugar levels to spike. Moreover, because the body does not process sugar immediately, the sugar is likely to be stored as fat.

With no real health benefits in soda, drinking a soda can only have negative consequences on the body. A 20 ounce bottle of Coca-Cola contains 240 calories, 75 grams of sodium, and 65 grams of sugar, according to The Daily Plate (http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/coca-cola/coke-20oz) That's compared to zero calories, zero grams of sugar, and 35 grams of sodium in Diet Coke.

Sodas are bad for everyone, but especially for Diabetics. If you feel you need a high-calorie drink for energy, it would be best to select a high calorie drink that has some nutritional benefit, such as V8 juice.

V8 Juice

V8 juice is a popular brand that has both fruit and vegetable juices in its line-up. While V8 juice does come with its fair share of calories, you'll also receive a plateful of excellent vitamins and minerals. One cup of V8 low-sodium 100 percent vegetable juice has just 50 calories and 140 mg of sodium, but I's loaded with two servings of vegetables, according to Shape magazine. Opt for a bottle of Odwalla 100 percent carrot juice to get 70 calories, 160 mg of sodium and four times your daily requirement of vitamin A.

Glucerna

While Diabetics should avoid high-sugar drinks as rule of thumb, there are some drinks that are made for folks with Diabetes, including Glucerna. Glucerna has been clinically shown to minimize blood sugar spikes. Plus, it contains 27 vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, has chromium picolinate (which helps in insulin processing), and also includes omega-3 fatty acids that help your body function optimally, according to IMTypeFree.com. Glucerna cans have 200 calories in an eight ounce serving.

As a general practice: when managing Diabetes, avoid high calorie drinks that have no health benefits. However, it's okay to drink high calorie drinks that provide vitamins and other ingredients that enhance your overall health.

Resources:

http://shop.imtypefree.com/Glucerna-Shake-Homemade-Vanilla-p/ros57801.htm

"Sip Your Way Slim;" Shape magazine, August 2009.

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/coca-cola/coke-20oz