People with type 2 diabetes must continually rely on medication to control their blood sugar levels, but it’s a difficult disease to manage, especially if daily insulin shots are required.
Now a new study just published today says that people with type 2 diabetes can keep their blood sugars under control by drinking a small amount of whey protein before each meal.
In the research with promise for dietary control of the condition, type 2 diabetics drank a pre-made shot with a low dosage of whey protein before meals. They were followed around for a week as they went about their everyday routines.
To examine the possible benefits of whey protein, the same subjects also drank a control shot containing no protein for a week in order to compare the outcomes.
Continuous glucose monitoring demonstrated that when the whey supplement was taken before meals, glucose levels were substantially better managed. In comparison to the no protein week, they had two hours more per day of normal blood sugar levels. Furthermore, when compared to when they drank the supplement without any protein, their daily blood glucose levels were 0.6 mmol/L lower.
“While previous studies for a few hours in the lab have shown the potential for this dietary intervention, this is the first time that people have been monitored as they go about normal life,” said Dr. Daniel West, Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom.
As explained by the expert: “The whey protein works in two ways, firstly, by slowing down how quickly food passes through the digestive system and secondly, by stimulating a number of important hormones that prevent the blood sugars climbing so high.”
“As we see growing numbers of people around the world developing diabetes, investigating the potential of alternatives to drugs such as food supplements becomes more important.”
Over the course of seven days, 18 participants with type 2 diabetes drank a tiny drink containing 15 grams of protein in a 100 ml shot 10 minutes before breakfast, lunch, and supper and continued to take their diabetes medication. Over the course of a week, continuous glucose monitoring automatically recorded blood glucose levels.
“People were able to stick to the regime and liked the idea of having a convenient, tasty, small pre-made drink that could be carried with them and taken before meals,” added Kieran Smith, a PhD student at Newcastle University who monitored the glucose monitoring and analyzed the data.
The researchers plan to expand on the benefits of non-medical interventions by conducting the trial on a wider scale and for up to six months. They also intend to investigate alternative proteins, such as those derived from plant sources such as peas, fungus, and potatoes, to expand vegan and religious dietary options.
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