For those living with diabetes, choosing the right food in the right amounts is often a concern. Not only will these choices affect your blood glucose readings and how well you feel, but they’ll also need to fit into your daily life as seamlessly as possible. Low Glycaemic Index (GI), high fibre, portion-controlled foods are a priority when it comes to managing your diet in diabetes.
FUTURELIFE® and Diabetes
Certain products in the FUTURELIFE® range are suitable for those living with diabetes and ensure that their needs are met while providing a food that is as nutrient dense, balanced, and convenient as possible.
In addition, FUTURELIFE® uses:
- A unique patented cooking process which preserves nutrients and creates resistant starch which is beneficial for gut health1
- A process called nitrogen flushing in our powdered range, which means we use no additives or preservatives in our products
- Functional ingredient in our range that provides health related benefits
Many products in the FUTURELIFE® range are low GI, which means that the carbohydrates will be absorbed at a slower rate, resulting in a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels4. Glycaemic Load (GL) is another important term when choosing food appropriate for diabetics. GL takes the quantity of carbohydrates in a portion into account in addition to how quickly the carbohydrates are absorbed (GI). If you are diabetic, you should always aim to eat low GI and low GL foods6. High GI foods on the other hand will result in a rapid rise in blood sugar levels as the carbohydrate and sugar content are absorbed quickly and therefore not recommended for diabetics2,3,4. Below is a table highlighting these products to put your mind at ease.
Products within the FUTURELIFE® range suitable for those living with diabetes:
|
SUITABLE PRODUCTS |
GI |
FEATURES |
|
FUTURELIFE® Smart food™ |
Low |
FUTURELIFE® Smart food™ is high in protein, fibre and omega 3 and contains Inulin, a prebiotic fibre beneficial for gut health. It is available in four delicious flavours: Original, Chocolate, Banana and Strawberry. We recommend you have a 50g portion (5 tablespoons) or ½ cup measure of FUTURELIFE® Smart food™ mixed with water or low fat or fat free milk as a meal and a 25g portion (2½ tablespoons) as a smoothie or snack. *This product along with the 2 below, provides 100% of all the vitamins and most minerals that you need daily per 100g of product (according to NRVs). In addition to that, most of our powdered range contain MODUCARE® for additional immune support5. |
|
FUTURELIFE® ZERO Smart food™ |
Low |
This product contains zero added cane sugar (only lactose, which is a naturally occurring milk sugar) and our blend of Smart Sweetness (Stevia, Sucralose and Erythritol). It therefore caters for those who want to decrease their sugar intake. FUTURELIFE® ZERO Smart food™ is soy, maize and brown rice based. It also contains Acacia fibre, a soluble fibre that expands when in contact with fluid and therefore helps to keep you fuller for longer4. It contains only 1.5g of fat per 40g serving. We recommend you have a 40g portion (4 tablespoons) as a meal or shake. |
|
FUTURELIFE® HIGH PROTEIN Smart food™ |
Low |
FUTURELIFE® HIGH PROTEIN Smart food™ is higher in protein and contains less carbohydrates compared to our FUTURELIFE® Smart food™ and FUTURELIFE® ZERO Smart food™. It also contains our patented SmartProtein3D, which is a blend of whey, soy and casein. It contains SUPRO® Soy Protein Isolate, which is the functional ingredient. FUTURELIFE® HIGH PROTEIN Smart food™ is tested for banned substances monthly and carries the Informed Choice endorsement. Along with having the lowest GI of our products, it also has a low GL and contains only 19.5g of carbohydrates per 50g portion. Due to this unique formulation it typically yields the best results in managing blood glucose levels. We recommend a serving of 5 heaped tablespoons, ½ cup or 50g of powder mixed with water or low fat or fat free milk as a meal and a 25g portion (2½ tablespoons) as a smoothie or snack. FUTURELIFE® HIGH PROTEIN Smart food™ is available in two flavours: Original and Chocolate. |
|
FUTURELIFE® High Protein Bread Range (Brown Bread, Oats and Honey Flavoured Brown Bread and Ancient Grain Brown Bread) |
Low |
The FUTURELIFE® HIGH PROTEIN Bread Range is low GI, high in dietary fibre and a source of omega-3 fatty acids. The range is high in protein, containing all the amino acids to make it a complete protein. It is also suitable for vegans. A serving of the FUTURELIFE® High Protein Brown Bread consists of 2 slices of bread providing 2 carbohydrate exchanges. A serving of the FUTURELIFE® Oats and Honey Flavoured Brown Bread and FUTURELIFE® Ancient Grain Brown Bread is one slice as these dumpy loaves are more dense, providing 18g and 20g of carbohydrates respectively.
|
|
FUTURELIFE® HIGH PROTEIN LITE Bar |
Low |
FUTURELIFE® HIGH PROTEIN LITE Bars are low GI, high in protein, lower in sugar (when compared to our other bars) and contain a mere 7 or 8g of carbohydrates per bar (depending on the flavour) which works out to ½ a carbohydrate exchange4. There are two flavours available: Chocolate Crunch and Peanut Butter Crunch. They are suitable for diabetics as an on the go snack or after exercise. They are also convenient as they can be kept in your handbag, car or desk drawer to prevent long periods of not eating, therefore assisting in blood sugar control. |
|
FUTURELIFE® BEAUTI FOOD™ |
Low |
FUTURELIFE® BEAUTI FOOD™ is a patented blend of collagen, protein and beauty specific vitamins. FUTURELIFE® BEAUTI FOOD™ is available as either a shake or a bar, both of which are high in protein, contain 5g bioactive collagen peptides and have a low GI and GL. The FUTURELIFE® BEAUTI FOOD™ Nutritional Shake, with no added sugar, contains only 12g of carbohydrates a 55g serving. The FUTURELIFE® BEAUTI FOOD™ Protein Bar contains between 13-14g of carbohydrates (depending on flavour). Since the GL of FUTURELIFE® BEAUTI FOOD™ is so low, its perfect as a nutritional supplement, but does not provide enough carbohydrates to be used as a meal replacement. |
|
FUTURELIFE® REPAIR FOOD™ |
Low |
FUTURELIFE® REPAIR FOOD™ is available in both a nutritional supplement and protein bar. The FUTURELIFE® REPAIR FOOD™ Nutritional Supplement contains Acti8™, a combination of carefully selected essential branched-chain amino acids, 10g hydrolysed collagen peptides, chelated minerals and targeted vitamins, aimed at the repair, maintenance and recovery of joints, cartilage, bones and muscles. Both the FUTURELIFE® REPAIR FOOD™ Nutritional Supplement and Protein Bar have a low GI and GL. The FUTURELIFE® REPAIR FOOD™ Nutritional shake contains 19g of carbohydrates per 75g serving while the Protein Bars contain 8g of carbohydrates per serving. This makes FUTURELIFE® REPAIR FOOD™ an ideal snack for an individual with diabetes. |
|
FUTURELIFE® |
Intermediate |
FUTURELIFE® Bran Flakes and Barley with Probiotic Capsules is the world’s first breakfast to combine fibre and live beneficial cultures which are packed separately to retain their nutritional properties. It is high in dietary fibre, providing 9.9g per 45g serving and contains 19 amino acids. Each box comes with 10 Capsules of HOWARU® Premium Probiotics. HOWARU® Premium Probiotics is a blend of clinically studied probiotics that has been scientifically formulated to contain two of the most beneficial probiotic strains, namely HOWARU® Lactobacillus acidophilus and HOWARU® Bifidobacterium lactic. Each capsule contains 1 billion CFU (colony forming units) HOWARU® Premium Probiotics at time of manufacture. A 45g serving is around 200ml or ¾ of a cup. Be sure to enjoy it with milk or yoghurt to help lower the GI. |
|
FUTURELIFE® Smart Oats® with Ancient Grains |
Intermediate |
FUTURELIFE® Smart Oats® with Ancient Grains is a multigrain product that contains steel cut oats, oats flour, brown rice, maize, sorghum and organic quinoa and is soy free. It is high in fibre and contains chromium and oat beta glucan to assist in blood glucose control. FUTURELIFE® Smart Oats® with Ancient Grains has an intermediate GI, therefore is only recommended for diabetics as an after-exercise snack, or as a meal alongside the addition of milk or another protein and healthy fat. It is mixes instantly with hot or cold water or milk and is available in Original, Chocolate, Mixed Berries and Honey flavours. |
|
FUTURELIFE ® HIGH ENERGY Bar |
High |
Keep this bar in your handbag or car as a precautionary measure for such hypoglycaemic emergencies. It is extremely important to prevent your blood sugar levels dropping so drastically as it causes great damage. Be vigilant with your medication and eating regular healthy meals, and snacks if necessary. |
What about sugar?
FUTURELIFE® does not promote the intake of uncontrolled amounts of sugar. Many of our products contain sugars that are found naturally in our ingredients such as lactose from milk and some sucrose from our raw materials.
Many people mistakenly categorise ‘sugar’ as glucose only, which has a high GI effect and raises your blood sugar levels quickly. Sucrose or table sugar is made up of fructose and glucose, which together have an intermediate GI7. This means that on its own it pushes up your blood sugar levels at a moderate rate. However, if you have only a small amount of sugar in combination with other nutrients such as protein, fat and fibre (such as in our FUTURELIFE® powdered products), the sugar is absorbed more slowly into the blood and does not push up blood sugar levels as quickly as when eaten on its own. As you can see, we have developed products that range in sugar content to cater for everyone’s preference.
Conclusion
Diabetes management is complicated, every individual living with diabetes may respond differently to our products, making certain products suitable to different individuals. We recommend that you test the effect of these products on your blood sugar levels, like you would with any other product.
Please visit our website for more articles, recipes and information on our products: www.futurelife.com.
REFERENCES:
- Experience life (2016). Resistant Starch for a Healthy Gut. Available at:
- https://experiencelife.com/article/resistant-starch-for-a-healthy-gut/ (Accessed September 2018)
- The Glycaemic Index of South Africa (2017). Cereals and Muesli. Available at: www.gifoundation.com/food-list/cereals-and-muesli/ (Accessed September 2018)
- The University of Sydney (2017). About Glycemic Index. Available at: http://www.glycemicindex.com/about.php (Accessed September 2018)
- http://www.futurelife.co.za/products/
- Everyday Health (2014). Glycemic Load: The Key to a Smarter Diabetes Diet. Available at: https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/type-2-diabetes-live-better-guide/glycemic-load/ (Accessed September 2018)
- Glycaemic Index of South Africa (2017). Sugars and Sweetners. Available at: https://www.gifoundation.com/food-list/sugars-and-sweetners/ (Accessed September 2018)
Author: Bianca Tromp RD (SA)
