Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have made an interesting discovery about managing Type 2 diabetes (T2D) through diet.
In a study published in the journal Obesity, they found that for people with T2D, the type of protein in their diet might not be as crucial as previously thought. What seems to matter more is the overall amount of weight loss.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body struggles with using insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels. Managing this condition often involves careful attention to diet and exercise.
In this study, 106 adults with T2D were divided into two groups. One group followed a high-protein diet, which included lean beef, making up 40% of their total calorie intake.
The other group had a normal-protein diet with 21% of their total calories from protein, and they were asked to avoid red meat. Both diets were designed to reduce calorie intake.
For one year, these participants followed their assigned diets while also working up to 70 minutes of exercise per day, six times a week.
They were part of the State of Slim weight management program, which provided specific food lists for each phase of the diet.
The exciting outcome was that both groups – those on the high-protein diet and those on the normal-protein diet – saw improvements in their glucose control, weight loss, and body composition.
This result suggests that people with Type 2 diabetes might have more flexibility in their diet choices than previously thought.
James O. Hill, a professor in the UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences and a lead author of the study, along with co-author Drew Sayer, Ph.D., emphasized that the findings show individuals can choose a diet that suits their personal preferences and lifestyle.
This flexibility is important because it means people are more likely to stick with their diet long-term.
The study’s design is significant. The high-protein diet group was unique in that they consumed four or more servings of lean beef per week, and this was their only source of red meat.
Their diet was composed of 40% protein, 32% carbohydrate, and 28% fat. On the other hand, the normal-protein diet had 21% protein, 53% carbohydrate, and 26% fat – which is still higher in protein than the average American diet.
The findings from this study are valuable for people with Type 2 diabetes. They suggest that when it comes to improving health markers like glucose control and body weight, the focus should be on overall weight loss rather than getting hung up on specific types of protein in the diet.
This research offers a new perspective and could lead to more personalized and flexible dietary recommendations for managing Type 2 diabetes.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes, and obesity, and the harm of vitamin D deficiency you need to know.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about the connection between potatoes and high blood pressure, and results showing why turmeric is a health game-changer.
The research findings can be found in Obesity.
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