It's hard to escape the advertisements that tell you if if eat this bar or drink that shake, your blood glucose levels will be more controlled and your diabetes will be easier to manage. Is this really true? Can these food or drink supplements really make your diabetes better?

I would argue that too often it's more of a scam for your money than a boon to your health. In this entry, I am using the word "supplements" to designate food or drink products, not vitamins or herbal supplements. 

Let me offer you some tips to help you decide whether you should be taking a supplemental food. 

• Beware of calories. Some of these supplements are intended to be meal replacements and others are meant to be consumed as snacks. Even though you may be watching carbs, calories are still what put on the pounds. An additional 500 calories per day will add one pound per week to your body weight!
• Is it worth the cost? People buy these food items for convenience and because they are promoted as healthy foods. How does their cost compare to the cost of the healthy meals and snacks they are replacing?
• Watch the ingredients. Some of these supplements may contain vitamins, minerals, or herbs that could interact with medications you are taking. Ask your doctor before taking any supplements. Also watch for large amounts of sugar alcohols - they can have a laxative effect.
• Variety is still the key to healthy eating, whether or not you have diabetes. Try not to consume these types of supplements every day. Your body still needs many different nutrients, and the best way to get those is from a variety of foods, not bars and shakes.
• Don't use these specialty foods to treat hypoglycemia. Many supplement meals and snacks contain fat, fiber, or a resistant form of starch. All of these nutrients will slow down the rise in blood glucose levels - the opposite of what your body needs when hypoglycemia hits.

It's up to you to make the call on products like this. Be an educated consumer. If you have questions about specific products, ask your doctor or diabetes educator to review the list of ingredients with you.