Workout Glucose Control.

May 16, 2021 5:23 PM

My trainer suggested to drink Glucerna for glucose control after every workout. His reason for suggesting this was not quite clear. Why would he have recommended this?
posted by Raybun to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

Does he have a promotion deal with them? My trainer's studio had a largely dusty and unattended section of some schmancy-post-workout-powder-mixes of some kind on a corner shelf, which I assume maybe he or the others in the studio used to tout, although they've never actually touted them to me. I assume he'd have gotten a little kickback or price break if he did.
posted by theatro at 6:58 PM on May 16, 2021

He probably recommends Glucerna because it has a mix of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc., that fit his fitness philosophy, because it’s convenient to bring a shake to the gym and drink it, and because he finds the cost/portion reasonable. He probably drinks it too. It’s a mass market diabetes/health aisle product so I don’t think it’s a predatory recommendation. I’m not saying this means you should use it, or should not use it!
posted by michaelh at 7:16 PM on May 16, 2021 [5 favorites]

What's his reasoning for you needing "glucose control"? Your basic Glucerna shake has 16 grams of carbs and 180 calories. Are your workouts rigorous enough that you need the immediate nutrient replacement?
posted by shiny blue object at 7:20 PM on May 16, 2021

Exercise lowers your blood glucose, which can make you feel shaky, clammy, dizzy, etc. If you have any of these symptoms after exercising, it's a good idea to have a snack - but it can be literally anything with some glucose, Glucerna is nothing special. Drink some gatorade, have a protein shake, whatever makes you feel good. Do you have any known blood glucose issues?
posted by autolykos at 7:24 PM on May 16, 2021 [3 favorites]

This guidance from the Australian Institute of Sport might be helpful. Have a look at the table, match with your level of exertion, match your carb requirements.
posted by some little punk in a rocket at 8:16 PM on May 16, 2021

Unless you're training at serious amateur or professional levels, or you are experiencing the symptoms of low blood sugar that autolykos mentions, there is no reason to worry about your post-workout glucose levels.

In any case, Glucerna seems to be an odd choice, because their products seem to have a lot more fat and protein than is generally recommended for post-workout nutrition. There's some research suggesting that athletes who work out frequently for extended sessions can benefit from recovery food with a 4:1 carb:protein ratio, but Glucerna has a lot more protein than that, and 9-11 g of fat per serving on top of that.
posted by brianogilvie at 7:24 AM on May 17, 2021

Trainers love to give out dietary advice, despite the fact that they are not trained or licensed to do so (source: was a licensed personal trainer). Legally they are not supposed to give any specific dietary recommendations in most states, and can only give extremely general tips. That doesn’t stop most of them from doing it anyway. But again, they have no formalized nutrition training (unless they have pursued it outside of their fitness certification). Most of their advice tends to follow fads, fitness articles, whatever their friends are doing, whatever their favorite Reddit forum is talking about, etc.

That is not to say that their advice cannot ever be good. But unless they do a lot of reading nutrition journals, and back up their recommendations with evidence in the form of actual nutrition research, take it with as much weight as you would advice from your favorite gym bro buddy - which is to say, with a very healthy dose of skepticism.
posted by MartialParts at 9:31 AM on May 17, 2021