Glucerna

Glucerna is the brand name of a family of snack bars and beverages manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. These food products are meant for people with diabetes and are promoted for their ability to satisfy hunger without causing rapid increases in glucose concentration in the bloodstream.

Composition and properties
According to Abbott Laboratories, Glucerna products are made with CarbSteady, a proprietary carbohydrate source containing sucromalt that is characterized by a reduced glycemic index of approximately 53. Glucerna products also contain vitamin supplements, chromium picolinate, and phytosterols. There is evidence that phytosterols are of value in lowering cholesterol, but the value of chromium supplements has been questioned.

The glycemic index of Glucerna shakes is approximately 31 relative to a value of 100 for pure glucose, while the snack bar has been found to produce less than a third of the glycemic response of a conventional snack bar. A scientific review concluded that diabetic snack bars, such as Glucerna snack bars, can be useful for weight control and for blunting hyperglycemia but are not suitable for treating hypoglycemia.

Like most premade foods, Glucerna products can be expensive compared with alternative healthy foods prepared at home.