5 Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Diabetics in 2024

If you’re diabetic, finding foods that fit your dietary needs can be tough. While everyone has different needs, we’ve made this list of the 5 best meal replacement shakes for diabetics, to help you make a choice suitable for your needs. 

The main things we’ve based this list on are low-added sugar, and high fiber content. We still recommend consulting with your doctor before using a meal replacement supplement. While we can give general suggestions, they will help provide more tailored advice on which shakes will be best for you. 

Our team of certified nutritionists and professional athletes has reviewed 15 products and 5 of the best ones made it to this list. We’ve based our evaluations on 6 key factors and we have spent 3 weeks testing most of these products out.

Additionally, we have also analyzed hundreds of online user reviews. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section because our list is regularly updated.

Top 5 Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Diabetics Reviewed

1. Atkins Plus Protein Shake – Top-Pick
2. SlimFast Advanced Nutrition – Lowest in Sodium
3. Garden of Life RAW Organic Meal – Best Low-Fat Option
4. MRM Nutrition, Veggie Meal Replacement – Budget Pick
5. Sunwarrior Lean Superfood – Highest in Vitamin D

Product	Total	MACRO Breakdown	Fiber per Serving	MICRO Breakdown	Taste + Texture	Nutrition Label Transparency	Value for Money
Atkins Plus	58.5	10	10	9.5	9.5	9.5	10
SlimFast	56	9	9	10	9	9.5	9.5
Garden of Life	54.5	9	9.5	9	8.5	9.5	9
MRM Nutrition	54	9	9	8.5	9	9.5	9
Sunwarrior	53.5	9	9	9	8.5	9.5	8.5

Our best overall pick for the best diabetic meal replacement shakes is Atkins Plus Protein Shakes. These are the highest protein and highest fiber shakes on our list, complete with a solid micro breakdown, making them an excellent all-around pick. 

Each of these shakes is 190 calories. As mentioned, you’re getting a solid 30g of protein sourced from milk protein isolate, so if you’re trying to maximize protein intake this will be a great pick. There’s also 5g of fat and 9g of carbs – which include 7g of fiber. 

In terms of micronutrients, you’ll be getting solid amounts of 23 different vitamins and minerals, mostly around 20% of your DV. While you’ll be getting 15% of your daily iron, there’s also 60% of your daily calcium, which may interfere with iron absorption. Otherwise, this is a solid well-rounded micronutrient profile. 

While Atkins offers shakes in several other flavors, the Plus shakes that have 30g of protein per serving appear to only be available in chocolate. Also, this shake contains artificial sweeteners like sucralose, in case this is something you choose to avoid.

However, keep in mind that artificial sweeteners may be a good replacement for sugar for diabetics when consumed in moderation. 

Finally, each serving of this shake will cost you about $2.41, making this one of the most expensive shakes on our list. While most of our other options are nearly a dollar cheaper per serving, the exceptional macro breakdown still makes these the best overall choice.

Next on our list of the best shakes for diabetics is Slimfast’s Advanced Nutrition Shake. While this is a lower protein option compared to our top pick, it makes up for this through its solid micro profile and excellent value. 

Each serving of SlimFast is 180 calories, making it very similar to Atkins Plus. At 20g of protein per serving, this is significantly lower than our top pick, although it’s still a good amount for a meal replacement drink.

There’s 9g of fat and 7g of carbohydrates. This is still a fairly high-fiber option with 5g per serving. Finally, at 180mg of sodium per serving, this is the lowest sodium option we’ll be covering as well. 

With 24 different vitamins and minerals, mostly dosed at around 35%, Slimfast also offers one of the most balanced micronutrient profiles on our list. 

While we focused on the chocolate flavor, it appears Slimfast also offers their Advanced Nutrition shakes in vanilla, as well as strawberries and cream. Also, the point about artificial sweeteners is true for Slimfast as well which contains sucralose. While you may want to avoid these ingredients, they can be a convenient alternative to sugar. 

As mentioned, at ~$1.66, these shakes are significantly cheaper than the top pick on our list. While they aren’t an especially high protein option, they’re a great choice if you want to prioritize micros and your budget as well.

Next up on our list of meal replacement drinks for diabetics is a great low-fat option, as well as the first vegan-friendly option we’re covering.

While not especially high in protein for our list, it still has a good amount of fiber and a solid micro breakdown. Keep in mind that this is made of several protein sources, meaning it has a complete amino acid profile. 

Each serving of Garden of Life is 150 calories, making this one of the lowest-calorie options we’re covering. At 20g of plant-based protein per serving, it has the same moderate protein content as Slimfast.

With only 2-2.5g of fat, this is easily the lowest fat option on our list. It also has 12-13g of carbs with 6-7g of fiber, meaning Garden of Life is tied with Atkins for the highest fiber option on our list.

While most flavors have 0g of sugar, the “lightly sweet” option does have 5g of sugar, which you may want to avoid if you’re closely monitoring your sugar intake. 

It’s worth noting that Garden of Life has one of the most unbalanced micro breakdowns on our list, containing anywhere from 4-380% of each micro’s DV. It’s worth noting that Iron is dosed at 20% DV, while Caclium is only dosed at 4% DV, making this a good choice if you want to prioritize iron intake. 

This is the first product on our list to be completely organic, being naturally flavored without any artificial ingredients. However, it does contain the sugar alcohol erythritol, which may cause some gastrointestinal distress.

It also comes in 3 different flavors, chocolate, vanilla spiced chai, and lightly sweet. It’s also worth noting that this is the first powder-based supplement on our list, while the top 2 picks are pre-mixed. 

At ~$1.72, this is slightly more expensive per serving than Slimfast, while still being significantly cheaper than Atkins. Overall, Garden of Life still offers excellent value for money, especially considering the quality of the organic formula.

For our next meal replacement for diabetics, we have another vegan, powder-based supplement from MRM Nutrition. Like Sunwarrior, it combines several protein sources to make a complete amino acid profile.

While the previous 2 options we covered were both relatively budget-friendly, this is still significantly cheaper, being the best budget option on our list. 

At 190-200 calories per serving, MRM is the highest calorie shake on our list, although it’s only slightly higher in calories than most of the other options. With 22g of protein, it has slightly more protein than the last 2 options, although it’s still not as much as our top pick.

There’s 4-6g of fat in each serving, as well as 14-16g of carbs. With 4g of fiber per serving, it still has a decent amount of fiber as well. 

Similar to Garden of Life, the micro breakdown is fairly unbalanced, with its 19 vitamins and minerals ranging in doses from 10-200% DV. With 53% DV of iron, this is likely the best supplement on our list if you want to prioritize your iron intake, especially considering calcium is only dosed at 22% DV.

Also like Garden of Life, this is an all-natural shake without any artificial sweeteners. However, unlike our previous pick, MRM doesn’t contain any sugar alcohols. You can get MRM in 2 standard flavors, chocolate mocha and vanilla bean.

Closing off our list of the best nutritional drinks for diabetics is one final vegan shake, coming from Sunwarrior. While it has a great formula and micro breakdown, be aware that this is also a low-protein option at a high price point. 

At 120-130 calories, this is easily the lowest-calorie option on our list. Keep in mind this is largely because it’s in powdered form, so you can add more calories by mixing milk.

With 15g of protein, it’s also low in protein – having half as much protein per serving as Atkins’ shake. The rest of the macros come from 4.5-5g of fat, and 6-7g of carbs which includes 4-6g of carbs. 

Arguably the best thing about Sunwarrior is its micro breakdown. While it’s somewhat unbalanced, most of the vitamins are dosed around 50% DV, including Vitamins A, E, and C. This is a good choice for iron, containing 30% of your DV, just keep in mind that it also contains 25% DV of calcium, which may interfere with absorption somewhat. 

Sunwarrior’s formula is another highlight. Like Garden of Life, it’s made up of all organic ingredients, meaning it doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients. There’s also decent flavor variety available, including chocolate, vanilla, and snickerdoodle. 

Finally, at ~$2.45 per serving, this is the most expensive product on our list, being somewhat more expensive than Atkins. Considering the low protein content, Suynwarrior doesn’t have the best value for money, even though it does have an excellent vegan-friendly formula.

Can Diabetics Drink Meal Replacement Shakes?

Yes, while diabetics may need to choose meal replacement drinks a bit more carefully, there are still plenty of great options available for them. While we believe the drinks on our list will be suitable for most diabetic people, everyone has different needs. As a result, we recommend talking with your doctor to see which shakes are best for you. 

Especially for Type 2 diabetes, meal replacement plans can be effective for weight loss. With that being said, it’s recommended you have close supervision from trained practitioners when using meal replacement drinks for weight loss.

How to Choose the Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Diabetics?

As you likely already know, diabetics often need to be careful with their diets, especially when it comes to processed foods like meal replacement drinks. Below we’ll be covering 6 specific factors that you should look for when choosing a meal replacement shake.

1. Choose Lower-Calorie and Lower-Carb Options

First, especially if you’re trying to lose weight, choosing lower-calorie options may be a good way to help you stay in a consistent caloric surplus. With most of the options on our list being under 200 calories, none of them will add a significant amount of calories to your diet. 

Also, while we recommend high-fiber options, be sure to double-check the carb content. Remember that carbs will directly affect your blood sugar levels. It’s recommended that diabetics get most of their carbs from whole food sources like fruits and veggies, so you may want to limit carbs from processed drinks – especially if they’re in the form of sugars. 

2. Choose Moderate-To-High Protein Options

If you’re trying to lose weight, getting a high amount of protein in your diet will help you maintain muscle mass while losing weight. A good goal to shoot for is 0.7-1g of protein per pound of body weight. High protein options like Atkins Plus shakes will make it much easier to hit these goals. 

3. The Fewer Added Sugars, the Better!

For diabetics, it’s generally recommended you avoid drinks with high amounts of added sugar. This was a major priority for our list, with most of the options above containing no added sugar, instead being sweetened with artificial sweeteners, or natural sugar alternatives like stevia.  

4. Choose a Product With a High Amount of Fiber per Serving

High-fiber diets will likely help keep your blood sugar levels under control, as well as helping you feel fuller. Additionally, high-fiber diets are related to better overall health and disease prevention – including heart disease and various cancers. 

5. Choose Low-Sodium Products

Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, meaning blood pressure is especially important for diabetics. With high sodium diets being related to high blood pressure, it’s a good idea to monitor and limit your sodium intake. While most meal replacement drinks have relatively low sodium content, it’s always a good idea to double-check. 

6. Choose the MRP With the Least Amount of Saturated Fat

Finally, similar to the point about sodium above, diets high in saturated fats may lead to higher cholesterol and triglycerides, increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke. Once again, it’s a good idea to check saturated fat content and limit the total intake in your diet.

7. Choose an Mrp With Your Doctor

As mentioned above, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before adding a meal replacement shake into your diet – especially if you’re trying to use it for weight loss. Your doctor will have a good idea of your needs and can help you find a shake that’s perfectly suited to your needs.

They will also be able to monitor your health and help you make any necessary adjustments.

FAQ

What Is a Good Meal Replacement Drink for a Diabetic?

The best nutritional shakes for diabetics are low in added sugar and high in fiber. Some other factors to consider are protein content, sodium, and saturated fat. While our top pick is Atkins Plus, we recommend consulting with your doctor to get a recommendation well-suited to your needs.

What Meal Replacement Shakes Can Diabetics Take To Lose Weight?

All of the meal replacement shakes on our list can be a part of an effective weight loss strategy, given that you’re still eating in a consistent caloric deficit. With that being said, if you’re using meal replacement drinks for weight loss, we recommend being monitored closely by your doctor to ensure there aren’t any complications that arise.

What Is the Best Protein Shake for Diabetics?

If you’re looking for a protein shake instead of a liquid meal replacement for diabetics, we recommend following similar guidelines. Find a shake that has no added sugar, and high fiber if possible. Most whey protein isolates will be suitable for diabetics, even though they don’t have any fiber.

Consider including sources of fiber such as fruits and whole grains like oats if you’re using protein shakes.

Conclusion

If you’re diabetic, there are still plenty of excellent meal replacement shakes available for you. While we can give general guidelines, we recommend consulting with your doctor before buying any of the products on our list. Especially if you’re using these for weight loss, be sure your doctor can monitor you to avoid any possible complications. 

With that being said, our top pick for diabetic-friendly meal replacement shakes is Atkins Plus.

Do you have any favorite weight loss shakes for diabetics? Have you ever used any meal replacement shakes for weight loss? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Also read:

• Best Meal Replacement for Weight Gain
• Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Gain
• Best Meal Replacement Bars
• Best Keto Meal Replacement Shake
• Best Vegan Meal Replacement Shakes

References:

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2. American Diabetes Association; “8. Obesity Management for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes” Diabetes Care 1, 100-110 (2021)
3. Linda M Delahanty, MS RD, Patient education: Type 2 diabetes and diet (Beyond the Basics)” Uptodate.com https://www.uptodate.com/contents/type-2-diabetes-and-diet-beyond-the-basics#H16 (Accessed Jan. 3 2024)
4. Everson A. Nunes, et. al, “Systematic review and meta-analysis of protein intake to support muscle mass and function in healthy adults,” Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 13, 795–810, (2022)
5. The Nutrition Source, “Fiber”, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource /carbohydrates/fiber/ (Accessed Jan. 3 2024)
6. The Nutrition Source, “Salt and Sodium”, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ nutritionsource/salt-and-sodium/ (Accessed Jan. 3 2024)