How Grocery Shopping Can Be Easier
for Diabetics and Pre-diabetics

Grocery shopping for any household is a challenging task as is, especially as we continue enduring the effects of the pandemic where options can feel very limiting. It becomes even more difficult when you have health factors to consider. Kaya for people who are undergoing lifestyle changes - like if you’re managing Prediabetes - there’s a need for extra consideration. Before adding items to your cart, you need to ask yourself questions like “healthy ba talaga ‘to for me?”, “nakakataas ba ‘to ng blood sugar?” or even “safe ba’ to kainin kung may Diabetes ako?”

This kind of mindful shopping is crucial because it spells the difference between your condition being reversed or progressing into something that’s harder to manage. But of course this is easier said than done. Typically, you’re going to consider the trade-offs in choosing healthier alternatives: “Healthy nga, pero masarap ba?” Thankfully, striking that balance between finding good and healthy food can be easier and is actually more accessible than we think. The key is to focus more on finding certain ingredients or food types while you’re out on a grocery run.

The first food type to check are the ones that are low in Glycemic Index (GI). The Glycemic Index is a guide to check how quickly Carbohydrates raise your Blood Sugar levels after consumption. This is helpful for people with Prediabetes or Diabetes because food low in GI tend to release sugar slowly and helps in preventing sudden blood sugar spikes which affect your energy and cravings. Some examples of food with low GI are vegetables like eggplant, broccoli, tomatoes, beans and dark chocolate (with more than 70% cocoa).

While checking for carbohydrates is good, did you know that FIBER is just as important? Fiber is the carb that helps control blood sugar because of the end products absorbed. That’s why fiber is helpful for Prediabetes because it also helps to protect your heart, improve gut health, and helps you stay fuller longer.

Depending on factors like your sex and age, experts recommend that adults with Diabetes get around 22-35 grams (g) of fiber a day. So next the next time you shop, try to include fiber-rich food such as whole wheat breads (per 100g serving, 7g of fiber), apples (1 medium with skin, 4g of fiber), or whole wheat spaghetti (1 cup, 6g of fiber).

But if you need an even easier way to make sure you get your fill of fiber that’s also low in sugar and is low in GI, consider adding Nutren Diabpro to your list. While some may think it’s powdered milk, it’s actually a nutritional supplement that’s made right for Prediabetics. Drinking just 1 glass of Nutren Diabpro already gives 4.8g of fiber – that’s as much as 3 bowls of Oatmeal. It also has the right components to make sure you get to manage your Diabetes or Prediabetes easier – it’s high in protein to reduce cravings, low Glycemic Index to prevent sudden blood sugar spikes, and its sugar content is only 2% of what you get in average fruit drink. Nutren Diabpro also meets the international diabetic guidelines making it a great way to pair with meals so that you’re stressing less on hitting a checklist of ingredients and nutrients to take in. After all, even if you’re someone dealing with a condition like Prediabetes or Diabetes, it doesn’t mean you need to skip out on the good parts of life too.

To learn more about what’s in Nutren and how to take it, read up here: www.nestlehealthscience.ph/brands/nutren/nutren-diabpro