Protein powders are handy snacks while you are on-the go, allowing you to avoid the vending machines and remain fueled during a hectic day. Eating at regular intervals during the day assists you in maintaining stable blood glucose levels, ensuring your metabolism stays revved. As a diabetic, carefully selected protein powders can assist you in meeting your dietary needs and maintain stable glucose levels throughout the day.
Diabetes
Diabetes affects approximately 25.8 million people in the United States, according to National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 2010 statistics. Diabetes is a group of disorders affecting how effectively your body is able to utilize glucose for fuel. Insulin, secreted by your pancreas, moves glucose out of the blood for use as an energy source. Your body's inability to produce enough, or any, insulin may lead to high amounts of glucose in your blood.
Diet
Diet is an important part of managing diabetes. In fact, nutrition is such an important part of preventing and managing diabetes, the American Diabetes Association released a position statement in the January 2008 edition of "Diabetes Care," reinforcing the importance of medical nutrition therapy. This statement recommends individualized nutrition therapy, suggesting monitored weight loss programs and low-carbohydrate or low-fat, calorie-restricted diets for up to one year. Protein shakes that are low in sugar and carbohydrates may form a part of a healthy weight loss plan for diabetics.
Benefits
Protein powder has numerous benefits for diabetics. Planning snacks ahead of time makes it easier to avoid the goodies left out in the lunchroom. Protein powders, particularly whey protein, promote higher rates of satiety, or feelings of fullness, according to research published in the December 2007 "Journal of American College of Nutrition." A 2009 study published in the "Journal of Clinical Nutrition" reports that whey protein outperformed other protein supplements in postprandial lipemia, or the presence of fatty substances in the blood. Whey protein may also decrease your chances of developing metabolic disease if you have pre-diabetes, suggests a study published in the January 2011 "Journal of Nutrition," where whey protein supplements slowed the onset of fatty liver disease and Type 2 diabetes in mice.
Cautions
Monitor the carbohydrate content of the protein powder you select to ensure that it will fit your dietary needs. Protein powders range from very low in carbohydrates to very high, so read the nutritional information carefully. Check the sugar content carefully, including sugar by any of its other names, such as glucose, fructose, corn syrup, maltose and sucrose. Maltose, in particular, may interact with some blood glucose monitoring machines giving false high readings. Refer to the US Food and Drug Administration site for information regarding reported interactions.
References
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; Whey Proteins in the Regulation of Food Intake and Satiety; B.L. Luhovvy, et. al; December 2007
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Differential Effects of Protein Quality on Postprandial Lipemia in Response to a Fat-rich Meal in Type 2 Diabetes: Comparison of Whey, Casein, Gluten, and Cod Protein; L.S. Mortenson, et al.; July 2009
- "Diabetes Care"; Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes A position statement of the American Diabetes Association; 2008
- Diabetes in Control; Maltose, Galactose, and Xylose May Yield Falsely Elevated Glucose Readings; 2005
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: National Diabetes Statistics, 2011
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Dietary Whey Protein Lowers the Risk for Metabolic Disease in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet; H.G. Shertzer, et al.; February 2011 Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/402855-whey-protein-powder-diabetes/#ixzz1UfmIu4mJ
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