8 Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Diabetics (Updated)

This article will be your ultimate guide to the best meal replacement shakes for diabetics.

Diabetes is a life-threatening disease that is also famously recognized as a silent killer.

Elevated blood sugar levels classify this condition, and it is primarily managed with the help of dietary modifications.

It’s imperative for all people with diabetes to maintain an optimal regulation of blood sugar levels through a well-balanced diet and sugar control.

Similarly, weight loss can also aid with excellent diabetes management.

But, not everyone has the luxury to invest time and effort into cooking nutrient-dense meals and snacks to keep their high blood sugar levels in check.

Fortunately, there are numerous replacement shakes in the market today to fulfill your nutrition requirements while keeping your blood glucose levels in control.

However, not all meal replacement shakes are beneficial for diabetics since most of them are loaded with heaps of sugar and excessive carbs.

So, if you’re looking for some high-quality protein shakes for diabetics, you’ve come to the right place!

What are the Benefits of Meal Replacement Shakes for Diabetics?

Meal replacement shakes have several benefits for supporting ideal diabetes management that is mentioned as follows:

Healthy Weight Loss Promotion

Weight loss is super effective for managing diabetes, and most meal replacement shakes are in the form of protein powder that is equipped with high concentrations of fiber.

Protein is a macronutrient that increases your satiety levels, keeping you full for a longer time. Similarly, fiber also helps with appetite suppression along with regular bowel movements to ensure a healthy metabolism.

Nutrient-Dense Alternative

As mentioned before, not everyone has the time to prepare nutritious food for themselves since most people are caught up in their busy routines.

It’s times like these when meal replacement shakes come in handy with their quick-mix formula and highly nutritious ingredient list.

Furthermore, these protein shakes allow you to lose weight without depriving your body of vital minerals and nutrients.

Regulation of Blood Glucose Levels

It’s crucial for all diabetics to keep a close eye on their daily caloric and nutrient intake. They must adhere to strictly calculated concentrations of carbs to regulate healthy blood sugar levels.

Therefore, these protein shakes serve as the ideal alternative for a well-balanced meal that can be consumed at any time of the day without causing abnormal spikes in blood sugar concentration.

What are the 8 Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Diabetics?

The high demand for quality meal replacement shakes for diabetics has triggered a sudden surge in their production.

Therefore, it can become quite challenging to narrow down the finest choice that bodes well with your requirements.

Feel free to take from pick from the following list since it contains some of the best protein powders for people with diabetes.

1. Glucerna

Glucerna is a brand dedicated to providing high-quality meal replacement shakes for diabetic patients.

It offers a wide range of protein shakes and bars for optimal diabetes management. It is among the most recommended shakes by doctors due to its exceptional formulation.

The Glucerna meal replacement shakes contain a high fiber and protein content with 4 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein per serving that help with weight management and curbing blood sugar levels.

It is also famous for containing a significant concentration of high glycemic carbs that take longer to digest, leading to gradual blood sugar elevation. It contains a minimal amount of 4 grams of sugar which bodes well for diabetics.

Furthermore, it’s loaded with essential nutrients such as Vitamin A, C, D, E, and zinc. All these vitamins and minerals impart immunity-boosting properties to this meal replacement shake.

Glucerna offers the nutrition and satiation of a complete meal within just 180 calories per serving. It’s also available in four different flavors for a cost-effective price of $45.99 for a case of 24, 8 oz bottles.

2. 310 Shake

The 310 meal replacement shakes are a product of 310 Nutrition. They are available in the form of protein powder that can be mixed with water, milk, or any fluid of your choice.

This is one of the best protein powders for diabetics since it’s loaded with 15 grams of top-quality plant-based protein, along with 5 grams of fiber. Both these ingredients assist with weight loss and blood sugar management.

Another excellent feature of the 310 shakes is their zero sugar formula.

You heard that right! These shakes might be available in 9 mouthwatering flavors, but they contain no processed sugar as they are sweetened using natural sweeteners.

Their naturally sweetened taste helps to curb intense sugar cravings without causing any fluctuation in the blood glucose levels, and they only contain 90 calories per serving.

The 310 shakes are also equipped with numerous immunity-enhancing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that increase the nutrient density and effectiveness of the product in combating diabetes.

You can either purchase a 28 servings pack of the 310 shakes for $68 or a 14-serving pack for $39.

3. Ample K

Ample K is a meal replacement shake offered by the Ample brand. This shake is primarily used as a keto drink, but it has proven to be extremely beneficial for diabetics as well.

Ample K serves as a complete meal that is low in carbs, high in protein, and enriched with the goodness of more than twenty superfoods, along with prebiotics for a healthy gut and antioxidants for disease management.

The Ample brand claims that their meal replacement shake with 13 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber can keep you satiated for up to four hours.

Furthermore, this shake comes in four flavors; chocolate, vanilla, berry, and vanilla cinnamon that offer an exceptional taste.

You can enjoy this nutrient-dense and sweet drink at the expense of only 2 grams of sugar per serving.

The Ample K shake is available in both ready-to-drink and powdered forms. You can purchase a canister of the Ample K protein powder for $67.15 and there are two options for the liquid shakes.

The 400-calorie shake and the 600-calorie shake. You can get 12 bottles of the 400-calorie shake for $76.5, and you can purchase 12 bottles of the 600 calories Ample K shake for $91.8.

4. Garden of Life Raw Organic Meal

Garden of Life is a brand that offers exceptionally nutritious meal replacement shakes, and their Raw Organic Meal is a prime example of an excellent meal replacement supplement for people with diabetes.

The Raw Organic Meal protein powder contains a whopping 20 grams of plant-based protein per serving along with 6 grams of fiber for curbing your hunger pangs and helping you lose weight.

Another positive feature of this protein powder is that you can enjoy this meal replacement shake in four delicious flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, vanilla chai, and lightly sweet for less than 1 gram of sugar per serving.

There is no doubt that Raw Organic Meal protein powder has one of the most impressive ingredient lists since it’s formulated with 44 superfoods and 21 different vitamins and minerals that encourage diabetes management.

Let’s not forget its healthy prebiotic content that aids smooth digestion. Moreover, this protein powder is vegan-friendly, and it contains zero soy or dairy products.

You can purchase 16oz or 454 grams of this product for a budget-friendly price of $27.99, or you could get 32oz or 907 grams of this supplement for $51.99.

5. Ambari Nutrition Meal Replacement Shake

Ambari Nutrition is another renowned name that is famous for its mouthwatering and super healthy meal replacement shakes. Most meal replacement shakes are mainly in the form of protein powders or protein shakes.

However, when it comes to having a high protein content, Ambari Nutrition takes the cake by offering 35 grams of protein per serving. It also contains a healthy fiber content as it provides 3 grams of fiber in a single serving.

The Ambari Nutrition supplement has an exceptionally low sugar content since it contains only 1 gram of sugar per serving. It’s available in three tasty flavors and contains multiple vitamins and minerals for ideal immunity-building.

There are 230 calories in one serving of the Ambari Nutrition Meal Replacement Shake, and you can purchase 35grams of this product for $16.95.

6. SlimFast Keto Meal Replacement Shake Powder

As the name suggests, SlimFast is a brand that is primarily focused on promoting weight loss.

The SlimFast Meal Replacement Shake Powder is one of a kind since it offers 15 grams of healthy fat that is sourced from MCT-rich coconut oil.

It also contains an exceptionally low carbohydrate content since it provides only 3 grams of carbs per serving. Its low-carb and high-fat formulation show how this is a Keto supplement. It also contains a healthy serving of 8 grams of protein.

All these ingredients assist with effective weight loss that helps with diabetes management. Moreover, it contains 24 various vitamins and minerals that support your overall health.

This supplement has some of the best-tasting flavors, which include vanilla cake batter, creamy coffee cappuccino, and fudge brownie batter! It becomes impossible not to drool just by hearing their names.

This supplement is gluten-free, and it does not contain any artificial colors or flavors. You can get a ten-serving container of the SlimFast Meal Replacement Shake Powder for $14.97.

7. ALOHA Plant-Based Protein Powder

The ALOHA Plant-Based Protein Powder supports effective weight loss with its super high protein content. This protein powder offers 18 grams of protein in a single serving of 35 grams.

Therefore, it’s safe to say that more than half of the servings consist of satiety-boosting, organically sourced protein.

This protein powder for diabetics also contains 5 grams of fiber, and it’s available in two flavors, namely chocolate, and vanilla. It contains a minimum amount of sugar as if it provides 3 grams of sugar per serving.

This protein powder is completely free from gluten, soy, and dairy products. You can purchase a container with 15 servings of this powder for $30.

8. Designer Protein LITE

The Designer Protein LITE supplement is a protein powder that prides itself on an exceptionally nutritious ingredient list.

This protein powder provides an extremely high protein content since it offers 20 grams of protein in a single serving of 34 grams!

You can only imagine how helpful this powder will be for curbing a raging appetite. Furthermore, all the protein used in this protein powder is obtained from plant sources.

It contains several superfoods; however, one superfood that stands out is Garcinia Cambogia since it helps with burning fat. This protein powder is also equipped with 4 grams of fiber that offers a significant boost to your gut health.

While you can have an amazing time enjoying this shake in three brilliantly sweet-tasting flavors, it doesn’t mean that it contains heaps of sugar.

This product contains zero added sugar, and it’s gluten-free.

We’ve saved the best feature for last, as you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that the Designer Protein LITE powder offers only 60 calories per serving! You can purchase 9.3oz of this supplement for $9.33.

What are the Key Features of the Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Diabetics?

There are several factors that differentiate a good meal replacement shake from the best meal replacement shake. The following features will assist you in selecting the best protein powder for diabetics:

Zero/Low Sugar Content

You don’t need to be a nutrition expert to know that people with diabetes require a low sugar intake.

It’s generally advised for the entire population to limit their sugar consumption since it can lead to diabetes in the future. Therefore, there is a set limit to the daily sugar intake of both diabetic men and women.

Diabetic women shouldn’t have more than 24 grams of sugar in a day, whereas diabetic men shouldn’t have more than 36 grams of sugar in a day.

Considering how you will be obtaining sugar from other sources as well, your diabetes-friendly meal replacement shake shouldn’t contain more than 10 grams of sugar per serving.

High Glycemic Carbs

High glycemic carbs are different from your regular carbs since they don’t cause an instant spike in your blood glucose levels. These carbs digest gradually and cause a gradual increase in your sugar levels.

High Concentration of Protein

The best meal replacement shakes for people with diabetes are primarily protein shakes that assist with weight loss for promoting healthy blood glucose regulation.

Therefore, the best protein powder for diabetics is the one containing a minimum of 20 grams of protein per 40 grams of servings. This means that half of the serving must consist of protein.

Fiber-Rich Shakes

Fiber helps in managing diabetes as it assists with maintaining a healthy gut function through regular bowel movements and increasing the production of beneficial gut microbes.

The ideal meal replacement shake for diabetics is one where one-fifth serving comprises fiber.

Low Caloric Count

This one’s a no-brainer. Since most diabetics strive to lose weight, it only makes sense for the meal replacement shake to have a low caloric concentration.

The maximum recommended caloric concentration of a good meal replacement shakes for diabetics is 200 calories per serving or less.

Natural Ingredients

The ingredient list can make or break the quality of a supplement. A high-quality protein shake contains the finest natural ingredients, and it’s free from artificial flavorings and colorings.

Conclusion

Meal replacement supplements have been all the rage lately, and for a good reason. They offer a quick and nutritionally dense solution to the specific dietary requirements of the working class.

Furthermore, they are extremely helpful with optimal disease management, and diabetes is among the list of diseases that are controlled with the help of meal replacement shakes.

Therefore, if you’re on the hunt for the best meal replacement shake for diabetics, then it’s almost a tie between the Garden of Life Raw Organic Meal and Designer Protein LITE since they both offer high protein and fiber content with minimal sugar and affordable rates.