Protein Bars For Diabetics Low Carb

Best Overall: Rxbar Chocolate Sea Salt

If you want to feel like you’re eating a decadent salted brownie while meeting all your protein needs, you’ve met your match with an RXBAR. Dubbed a favorite by many of the experts we spoke to, Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD, an NYC-based Registered Dietitian, particularly likes the simplicity of ingredients: “RXBAR does a nice job of making bars out of recognizable ingredients. They are very straightforward on their packaging and tell you that each bar contains dates, nuts, egg whites, and flavors. My personal favorite is the Chocolate Sea Salt, and I find that the 12 grams of protein really keeps me full.”

Love Good Fats Protein Bars

Thus far on our list, we havent mentioned a bar thats vegan-friendly, keto-complaint, and made from nutritious coconut oil. But, thats about to change with this entry.

The Love Good Fats protein bar is almost one of a kind because it doesnt contain any soy or dairy, nor does it contain sugar alcohol. This makes it a perfect choice for individuals looking for a healthy energy source without harmful sugar excess.

While the protein content of this bar isnt as high as the others, it still makes for an exceptional energy-boosting bar with natural ingredients.

Pros

• Contains calcium, iron, and potassium
• Low sugar and high natural fat content
• Good price range

• Coconut oil may make the bars oily in hot weather conditions
• Medium protein content

+ Low Carb Diabetic Snack Bars Options

This is the first installment of our new Tasty Tuesday feature where well be covering different types of foods you can purchase online in low carb diabetic friendly options, of course.

Locally it can be difficult to find lower carb options. But thankfully now there are places we can shop for things we cant get locally and Netrition being two common places to shop for low carb products.

We use these two stores to give you the run down on diabetic snack bars available.

Don’t Miss: Diabetes And Heat Exhaustion Symptoms

Best For Fiber: Exo Bar Chocolate Fudge Brownie

It might remind you of Fear Factor, but eating insects is the next big thing. And did we mention that they pack a nutritional wallop? In terms of high-protein snacks, crickets have about as much protein as chicken breast but with three times the calcium. And in this bar, they provide a big chunk of the protein in this bar.

My Final Thoughts On Protein Bars And People With Diabetes

To sum things up, protein bars that meet the criteria I described above are an excellent choice for diabetes when you are in a pinch, or you just need a little something.

It is both my professional and personal opinion that many protein bars meet or exceed your needs, as you are dealing with diabetes and trying to manage blood sugar levels..

I currently have RX BARS ®in my pantry. The mixed berry flavor has 5 g fiber, and the blueberry flavor has 4 g. Try a protein bar and see what you think.

Don’t Miss: Diabetes And Metabolism Patient Portal

What Makes A Protein Bar Healthy

If you’re looking to further your better-body goals, you may consider eating high protein bars. While it might sound beneficial, unfortunately, most of the protein bars in the market are loaded with sugar alcohols or saturated fat and lack fiber.

Registered dietitian Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, FAND, and owner of Toby Amidor Nutrition tells Eat This, Not That! that they key in selecting a clean and healthy protein bar is to “look for a nice balance of healthy fat, protein, and fiber to help keep you satisfied. Choose a protein bar with between 200 to 400 calories and up to 20 grams of protein per serving.”

It’s not just macronutrients that matter when it comes to determining the best protein bar. Rachel Fine, MS, RD, CSSD, CDN, of To The Pointe Nutrition says ingredients are equally important. “Look at the ingredient list and identify transparent foods like nuts, whole grains, and fruit.”

Angie Asche, MS, RD, CSSD owner of Eleat Sports Nutrition adds that she looks for good sources of protein, “like whey protein isolate, pea protein, brown rice protein, and eggs.”

Can A Diabetic Eat Granola Bars

Diabetics can eat granola bars as long as they dont have too much sugar included in the composition. These bars contain nuts, fruit, grans, antioxidants, fibers, and healthy fats and do sound like the best protein bars for diabetics. But as long as they do have chocolate or yogurt covers, they are not the best protein bars for diabetics.

Recommended Reading: Type 1 Diabetes Books For Parents

Finding Healthy And Macro

You can be completely devoted to meal prep, but eventually life will get in the way.

Youll find yourself in a sticky situation, weak from hunger, and so ravenous that you can barely think. Youll be desperate for a snack that will stave off the hunger without making a dent in your progress.

Enter the low carb protein bar!

Generally under 5g of net carbs, with over 20g of protein and just short of 200 calories, these bars sound too good to be true. Unfortunately, it turns out they probably are.

Low-carb, high-protein bars are the new fitness trend. Theres nothing more convenient than a wrapped bar that you can pop in your gym bag, purse, or car, and whip out in case of emergency .

While in the past energy and protein bars were jam packed with nuts and dried fruits, and have featured nutrition labels pathetic enough to make a flexible dieter cringe, were in the midst of a protein bar revolution.

More and more companies are coming out with what are seemingly miracle protein bars.

They are super low carb, boast an impressive amount of protein, and are even delicious. With flavors like chocolate chip cookie dough that taste like youre eating batter off a spoon, its hard to resist ditching real food altogether and subsisting off of these bars alone.

Kashi Chewy Granola Bars

A favorite of many of my CDE colleagues these bars are convenient, tasty, and generally found everywhere. Keep in mind, not all Kashi bars are created equal. Aim to purchase one of the chewy bars to save on calories and sugar.

Nutrition Information:

Fat: 5-6 g fat

Flavors to Try: Honey Almond Flax, Trail Mix,

Where to find them: On-line, Amazon, Fresh Direct, at your local grocery store

For more information:

Recommended Reading: Does Diabetes 2 Go Away

Organic Almond Butter And Almonds

• Almonds are a great source of monounsaturated fats.
• They are low carb, high fat, and high in fiber. A 1-ounce serving contains 14g of fat, 6g of protein, and 6g of carbohydrates and from those, 3.4g are fiber.
• Thanks to this macro breakdown, almonds can help you stick to your personal keto macros while keeping you full.
• Almonds are also rich in vitamin E, folate, choline, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.
• Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that protects all the important polyunsaturated fats in your body so they can do their job well inside your cells.
• Studies show eating almonds can support heart health.
• Our almond butter comes from organic almonds to minimize pesticide exposure.
• Almond butter is significantly healthier than peanut butter. Peanuts are legumes , contain a lot of carbs and are inflammatory. Furthermore, commercial peanut butters often contain many additives including sugar.

What Is The Protein Bar For Diabetics

Sorry if youre perplexed. I know its not an easy choice! But its one of the most crucial choices youll ever make. If youre still unsure which type of protein bar for diabetics is best for you, I recommend comparing the characteristics and functionalities of the protein bar for diabetics listed above. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

Don’t Miss: Free Diabetic Meter And Test Strips

What Types Of Health Bars For Diabetes Are Available

Now, just so you know, Iâm not going to recommend bars that youâll find in the pharmacy department labeled as âdiabetes bars.â Think: Glucerna, Ensure, etc. These bars are often not made with quality ingredients and arenât super satisfying either.

The key to remember is that something doesnât have to be labeled as âdiabetes-friendlyâ for it to be a good option for people with diabetes. You just need to know what to look for.

Elan Granola Shot Paleo Mix

ELAN is made with over 80 percent seeds and nuts, including brazil nuts, flaxseed and cashews. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and coconut are the other ingredients. Its only got 4 grams of net carbohydrates per serving. The nuts and seeds make the granola in this bar, therefore there isnt any wheat used in making it.

What are net carbohydrates?

Net carbohydrates are the number of carbohydrates that are in food once you take into account the fiber in the food. To get the net carbohydrates for a food, take the total carbohydrates and subtract grams of fiber.

Fiber helps to keep your blood sugar steady. Its a carbohydrate, but it is not digestible, so it wont raise blood sugar at the same rate. Therefore, it is low glycemic. Fiber in food matters. Eating high fiber foods can help your blood sugars.

Good for diabetes?

This snack option is loaded with healthy nuts, as listed above.

It contains 4 grams of protein, and only 7 grams of total carbohydrates and 3 grams of fiber, bringing it to eight net carbohydrates. It has the lowest carbohydrates numbers in comparison to the other products reviewed here. It does have 15 grams of fat: 5 grams from saturated fat, 4 grams of polyunsaturated fat, and the remaining from 6 grams of monounsaturated fats.

Will I be able to stay in ketosis with ELAN?

This product offers a low glycemic and low carbohydrate option that works for ketogenic diets. Its our most ketogenic diet-friendly option here.

You May Like: Is Type Two Diabetes Hereditary

How Do You Choose The Best Protein Bars For Diabetes Management

Choosing the best protein bar when you have diabetes can seem a little daunting. That aisle in the grocery store full of bars that are probably full of sugar. Well thats not always the case! There are protein bars out there that are great options and well talk about how to choose!

Why protein bars? I know not everyone is a fan of bars. But sometimes life is just busy. And we need something to tide us over to the next meal while were wrangling kids or rushing to the next meeting or running errands. Bars are convenient, you cant deny it.

The Buyer’s Guide For The Best Diabetic Snack Bar

It’s always challenging to buy a diabetic-friendly snack. You have to keep an eye on the carbs and make sure it’s energy-rich. The above-listed products are entirely fulfilling these criteria and meet your demands for the low-carb options.

Let’s have a look at some of the criteria you should always keep in mind.

Read Also: Can Diabetes Cause Itching All Over Body

Buyers Guide: All You Need To Know About Best Protein Bars For Diabetics

In this section, youll get to know how to choose the best protein granola bars to stay healthy and energetic. Actually, it is a general guideline, maybe youll have to go through some trials and errors before you find a bar that will meet all your needs. Nevertheless, do pay attention to the following criteria:

• Sugar content must be less than 10 grams the lower, the better
• Carbohydrates less than 30 grams
• Protein content not less than 5 grams. Youll fill full and manage blood sugar levels
• Fiber not less than 3 grams for better digestion
• Calories less than 250 itll help to prevent weight gain.

What Purpose Is This Providing For Me

• Is it a snack or part of a meal? Bars are typically not adequate for a full meal. While I do not focus on calories, it can give you somewhat of an indication of how filling it will be. Less does not mean better. A 90 calorie bar is NOT going to cut it.
• How long do I need this to sustain me? If its several hours, consider additional foods for more satiety.
• Do I like the taste and texture of the bar? If not, there are plenty of other snack options out there!
• Is the bar you like actually a granola bar with very little protein? Well, lets add something to round it out as a balanced snack. Protein helps keep blood sugars stable.
• Do I need something sweet after a meal? Thats not necessarily the job for a protein bar. Just have a dessert that would truly satisfy that craving! Satisfaction and honoring cravings is extremely important. Eating something because you should or because it is seemingly healthier will only leave you unsatisfied, and likely to eat more food.

Don’t Miss: How Do I Control My Diabetes

Best For Women: Health Warrior Organic Pumpkin Seed Bars

“Pumpkin seeds are a great source of plant-based protein, essential fatty acids, and minerals like zinc, iron, and magnesium,” says King. And these nutrients are particularly important for women’s health. “Zinc plays a crucial role in hormone balance. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help ease period pain, it helps to balance excess androgen levels that are often seen in PCOS, it helps to clear the skin, plays a vital role in thyroid hormone synthesis, and helps ease the stress response. Magnesium plays a role in regulating blood sugar and insulin levels, in the production of hormones, supports the thyroid, and calms your nervous system to help ease the stress response.” Plus, as women are more prone to osteoporosis, adding magnesium-rich pumpkin seeds to your diet will help the formation and maintenance of healthy bones.

Other Options For Popular Protein Bars For People With Diabetes:

It can be difficult to find a wide variety of protein bars that meet the criteria I describe above.

Its important to add variety in your choices so that you dont become stuck in a rut with the same product.

You will find protein bars that dont meet all suggestions for the perfect protein bar, such as bars with low fiber.

Recommended Reading: Is Glaucoma Related To Diabetes

What Is Important To People With Diabetes

If you are suffering from diabetes, one of the most important things for you is to have nutrition in balance. Also, you should control your sugar level often and have a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes regular meals, exercising, and getting enough sleep. The lack of any of these factors can affect your blood sugar to rise.

When it comes to regular nutrition, you should avoid taking in sugar, especially artificial sweeteners. Your meals need to be rich in healthy nutrients such as proteins, healthy fats, and fibers, calcium, iron, vitamins, and minerals. Try not to skip any of your regular meals daily, because it can lead to the increase of sugar lever too.

When we talk about snacks, protein bars can be a great choice. protein bars for diabetics are those with a low glycemic index. Those do not raise your blood sugar level and provide you plenty of healthy nutrients. You should know that you can eat one bar a day. It can be your dessert, or snack before bed. If you exercise, take it before or after exercise, so this will provide you all the nutrients your body needs to recover fast after training.

Options For You When You Have Diabetes

When you need something quick in between meals, or before a workout, its a convenient choice to reach for an energy bar. When you have diabetes, you dont want to reach for products that are high in glycemic level, and raise your blood sugar.

There are products on the market that will foot the bill for low glycemic levels and natural sugars. Lets look at some of the best ones out on the market for you when you have diabetes.

Also Check: Lantus Insulin Patient Assistance Program

Are Perfect Keto Bars Safe During Pregnancy Or Breastfeeding

This product has not been evaluated for safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Always consult your health physician before making any changes to your diet or consuming new products while pregnant. While these bars are made with high-quality, healthy ingredients, talking to your doctor is always advisable.

Best For Weight Loss: Primal Kitchen Almond Spice

If you want to lose weight, you’ll want to keep your blood sugar balanced to remove thos dreaded spikes in blood sugar that can leave you hungry. “This bar has 8 grams of protein and minimal sugar, which helps keep blood sugar balanced by preventing a blood sugar spike ,” says King. “This flavor, specially, contains cinnamon. Cinnamon has been shown to improve fasting blood sugar levels, making it a great addition for people with diabetes, pre-diabetes, insulin sensitivity, and those with PCOS experiencing blood sugar irregularities.”

Also Check: Ways To Take Insulin For Type 1 Diabetes

The Initial Causes Protein Bars For Diabetics Low Carb

Type 2 diabetes is a common condition in many people. This type is caused by a lack of insulin and is a result of an unhealthy lifestyle. The bodys inability to process glucose from the blood can damage many parts of the body, including the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to avoid diabetes. Here are five tips to help you lower your risk: Eat more vegetables and fruits, get regular exercise, and avoid smoking.

High levels of triglycerides in the blood are another factor that can cause diabetes. These triglycerides are caused by a buildup of cholesterol in the blood. A high triglyceride level causes the body to misrepresent insulin as a molecule, which causes glucose to build up in the blood. A simple blood glucose test can confirm your diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. By following these tips, you can begin living a healthy life and avoid the complications of diabetes.

A person with type 2 diabetes must consume less sugar. Glucose causes thirst and dehydration because the body releases energy stores into the bloodstream instead of using insulin. If untreated, diabetes can lead to weight loss and diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous condition whereby the cells are deprived of energy. To prevent the condition, you must make sure that your diet is low in glycemic load and that you exercise regularly.