In a recent study from Newcastle University, scientists found that drinking a small amount of whey protein before meals has been shown to help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugars.
In a study, 18 people with type 2 diabetes consumed a small drink—in a 100 ml shot- with 15 grams of protein 10 minutes before breakfast, lunch, and dinner over seven days and remained on their prescribed diabetes medication.
They were monitored for a week as they went about normal daily life.
To compare the potential benefits of whey protein, the same participants also spent a week drinking a control shot that contained no protein in order to measure the results against each other.
The team found that blood sugar levels were much better controlled when taking the whey supplement before meals.
On average, they had two hours extra per day of normal blood sugar levels compared to the no-protein week.
In addition, their daily blood glucose levels were 0.6 mmol/L lower compared to when they consumed the supplement without any protein.
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.
The researchers believe 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 from climbing so high.
They say there are increasing numbers of people around the world developing diabetes, and finding the potential of alternatives to drugs such as food supplements becomes more important.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about stomach drugs that may help control blood sugar in diabetes, and this diet could boost health in people with diabetes.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about nutrient that may help reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, and results showing warnings about promising diabetes drug metformin.
The research is published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care and was conducted by Dr. Daniel West et al.
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