If you have type 2 diabetes and are overweight, you may benefit from following a Medifast plan for diabetes that includes special Medifast shakes. If you use them properly, Medifast Plus Shakes for Diabetes can help you lose weight and regulate your blood sugar, but you should not rely on them to cure your diabetes. Consult your doctor for information on controlling your weight and staying as healthy as possible.
Medifast for Diabetes
Medifast plans for individuals with diabetes are for weight loss and helping your control your blood sugar levels with frequent meals and controlled carbohydrates. You can follow the 800 to 1,000 calorie plan with five Medifast meals and one Lean and Green meal, the 1,100 to 1,300 calorie plan with four Medifast meals, two Lean and Green meals and one snack or the 1,400 to 1,600 calorie plan with five Medifast meals, two Lean and Green meals and two snacks each day. The Lean and Green meals and snacks are from healthy foods such as vegetables, lean protein and whole grains.
Medifast Plus Shakes
Medifast meals include choices such as brownies, oatmeal, pudding and scrambled eggs. You can substitute a Medifast Plus shake for a Medifast meal up to twice a day, and Medifast shakes have various features such as high-protein Medifast 70 shakes, Medifast Plus for Appetite Suppression with Citrimax and Medifast Plus for Diabetes, which come in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors. Medifast Plus for Diabetes Medifast recommends that you only have one type of shake in a single day. If you choose to have two shakes as meal replacements, make sure that they are the same kind.
Nutritional Information
The serving size for a Medifast Plus shake is one packet, or 28 g, and each has 90 calories, 9 to 10 g total carbohydrates and 0.5 to 1 g total fat, with no saturated or trans fats. The shakes have 3 g dietary fiber and 5 g sugars. The 14 g protein is from sources such as soy and milk protein isolates. They provide at least 20 percent of the daily value for all of the vitamins and essential minerals such as calcium, iron and chromium.
Glycemic Index
Medifast Plus shakes for diabetes may help you control your blood sugar levels because they have a low glycemic index. According to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, the glycemic index describe how much the carbohydrates in a food may impact your blood sugar, and low-glycemic foods do not cause sharp increases in your levels. Many other factors also affect your blood sugar levels, so if you have diabetes, follow your doctor's advice for medications and healthy lifestyle modifications.
