The Effect Of A High Protein Diet On Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body is either unable to produce insulin at all, is unable to produce enough insulin, or is unable to synthesize the insulin produced efficiently. As a result, blood sugar is not converted to energy effectively, leading to an increase in glucose levels.¹

It can lead to several symptoms such as polyphagia (extreme hunger), polyuria (abnormally frequent urination), and polydipsia (increased thirst). In the long run, uncontrolled diabetes can damage various organs such as the kidneys, lead to vision impairment, cause cardiovascular disorders, and in extreme cases, peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage.²

Management Of Diabetes

Self-management of diabetes goes way beyond medication. Physical exercise and diet play a crucial role in the holistic management of diabetes. Diabetic-friendly diets seem over-complicated and difficult to follow at first. It is important, however, to simply understand the basics and keep things as simple as possible.

An ideal diabetic diet must be low in calories, high in dietary fibres and protein, and should be complemented by avoidance of sugar. Following these fundamental principles of medical nutritional therapy for diabetes management can prove to be beneficial in more ways than one. First, it helps in regulating the release of glucose in the bloodstream. Moreover, it plays an important role in weight management and keeps other contributing morbidities such as high cholesterol and obesity at bay.

Several clinical studies have suggested that a high-protein diet can prove instrumental in improving your metabolic health. So, let’s dive in deeper and understand how a high-protein diet can benefit patients with diabetes.

The Role Of Protein In Diabetes Management

Protein is a key macronutrient required for the performance of various bodily functions. Our body needs protein for optimal growth, development, repair, and regeneration of muscles. It is a building block of life and is found in every cell of the body, including bones, nails, hair, and skin. Additionally, it supports and strengthens your immune system, and it is vital for the production of hormones such as insulin. A high protein diet improves muscle mass and limits the level of cholesterol, subsequently lowering blood pressure and blood glucose.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research’s RDA report 2020, the RDA of protein for an average Indian adult male is 54 grams per day. An average Indian female is 46 grams per day.³

One of the key benefits of a high-protein diet is that protein takes a longer time to digest. Hence, it makes you feel full for longer periods of time and reduces your appetite. It is especially important for diabetic patients as an uncontrolled appetite can lead to higher levels of blood sugar.

High-protein diets have also shown a positive effect on glycaemic regulation leading to a decline in the fasting blood glucose level as well as the post-meal blood glucose level. It has also proven effective in regulating insulin responses.⁴

Sources Of Protein

There are plenty of protein-rich food sources that also provide a variety of other essential nutrients such as Vitamins B and E and iron, magnesium, and zinc, which help keep your body healthy and functioning well. 

In dietary management of diabetes, you can incorporate the following foods into your daily diet to ensure optimal protein intake:

• Eggs
• Poultry and lean meat
• Fish and seafood
• Dairy products such as milk, cottage cheese, yogurt.
• Plant-based proteins such as soy, nuts, seeds, and legumes.

Supplementation

Even though there are plenty of protein-rich foods that you can include in your diet, a typical Indian meal often lacks in fulfilling the protein requirements of your body. In such a scenario, a nutritional beverage such as Horlicks Diabetes Plus can help along with your daily diet.

Horlicks Diabetes Plus has been scientifically formulated to support the dietary management of at-risk and diabetic individuals. Its dual blend high-fiber formula contains Nutriose®^ and Fibersol that help in reducing the levels of sugar and lipids in the blood, reducing the caloric intake and effectively aiding weight management.

Additionally, it is also high in protein and contains 16 vital nutrients. Its low-fat, high-protein and no added sugar^# formula is perfect for diabetic and at-risk patients.

Over the last couple of decades, the prevalence of diabetes has skyrocketed in India. A predominantly sedentary lifestyle increased access to processed and packed food. A fundamentally high-carb diet and high-fat diet has led to a spike in obesity, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. All these lifestyle disorders are the precursory underlying causes of type 2 diabetes. 

Living with diabetes can prove to be a challenge. It can be overwhelming and utterly confusing at times. However, the advancement of medical technology has afforded a renewed understanding of the disease, making self-management of diabetes possible and more effective than ever before.