A randomised crossover trial of high- versus low-protein diets on glycaemia in people with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and type 2 diabetes (T2D)

Objective

To determine whether a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet lowers glucose compared to a low-carbohydrate, normal-protein diet.

Research Design and Methods

A total of 11 participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 9 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were prescribed diets high (30%kcal) and low (15%kcal) in protein with carbohydrate kept constant (20%kcal), in randomised order (high-protein > low-protein > high-protein or low-protein > high-protein > low-protein sequence) following an initial run-in period of 1-2 days where participants followed their habitual diet (protein 15kcal; carbohydrate ∼45%kcal). Glucose was measured using blinded continuous glucose monitoring

Results

In people with T2D, 24-hour and post-prandial AUC □ □ □ were significantly lower (- 1.0mmol/L, 95%CI: -1.2 to -0.8, and (381.4 mmol/L*180, 95%CI: -443.5 to -319.3) and time in range (TIR) significantly higher (13.9%, 95%CI: 10.0 to 17.8) for the high-protein condition, compared to the low-protein condition. For people with NGT only post-prandial sensor glucose was lower on the high-protein compared to low-protein condition.

Conclusion

A high-protein, reduced-carbohydrate diet could be useful as a standalone or an adjunct to weight loss to help achieve optimum glucose concentrations for people with T2D.

Trial registration and protocol: ISRCTN26058700 .