9 September 2022
Dr Priyanka Rohatgi, Chief Clinical Dietician, Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore has said that increased protein intake is linked to controlled blood glucose levels and lowered diabetes.
The latest ongoing study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, by the Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) suggested an increase in protein intake to 20 per cent to manage Type-2 diabetes or even reverse the condition, if freshly diagnosed. As such, can protein really help reverse or manage this metabolic condition?
Explaining, Dr Aditya Chowti, Senior Consultant- Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road said that protein plays an important role in the management of diabetes. “It is an essential nutrient found in our body. We use protein for growth maintenance, energy, and a lot of chemical reactions. Most importantly, our muscles are made of protein.
Alluding to other studies, the dietitian mentioned that if protein consumption is followed by carbohydrates or starch, the post-meal blood glucose levels are better. “For example, if you have chicken or fish, first followed by rice , the post-meal blood glucose level could be reduced,” Dr Rohatgi explained.
Another way proteins help aid the health of diabetics is by boosting their immunity which is often compromised. “Another advantage of protein is that it provides good satiety and helps in hunger control and, therefore, can have a beneficial effect on weight management. Also regulates sugar fluctuations in blood,” she added.
Source - Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB)
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
