Abbott Nutrition makes nutritional supplements, including the nutritional shakes Glucerna and Ensure. These product lines each have different purposes, and a nutritionist can counsel you about whether you may benefit from one of them, and which one to choose.
Background
Glucerna and Ensure are both intended for medical nutrition therapy. Glucerna products are for individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Their literature states that you can use its products to help control your blood sugar levels. Ensure shakes may be better for you if you are ill, have lost your appetite or are unable to chew and swallow properly, which may be true if you have had surgery or extensive dental work.
Forms and Flavors
You can get Glucerna flake cereals with almonds, strawberries or raisins. Snack shakes come in chocolate and vanilla, and full-sized Glucerna shakes also come in butter pecan and strawberry. Flavors of bars, snack bars and minisnack bars include chocolate caramel, chocolate peanut butter, cinnamon bun, blueberry and caramel nut. Most Ensure products are ready-to-drink shakes, and common flavors include milk chocolate, vanilla, butter pecan and strawberries and cream. Ensure also comes in a vanilla powder.
Nutrients
To help control your blood sugar, Glucerna products are high in protein and fiber, and instead of being high in added sugars, they contain artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, which may lead to diarrhea when you have 10 to 50 g of them, according to MayoClinic.com. Glucerna is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. Ensure is high in protein and other essential nutrients, and each product has different benefits. For example, Ensure High Protein has extra protein, Ensure Bone Health has extra calcium and vitamin D, and Ensure Immune Health has omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and prebiotics, which support the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut and may support a strong immune system.
Usage
Glucerna products provide about 100 to 200 calories per serving, and you can use them as part of the 1,500- or 1,900-calorie Glucerna diet plan for stabilizing blood sugar and controlling your weight. These plans include Glucerna products and regular foods, and they suggest taking three meals and three snacks per day. Ensure is high in calories and carbohydrates, and you can use these shakes if you need to gain weight or are having trouble getting enough calories or other nutrients from your regular diet.
Member Comments