How Much Protein Should a Person With Diabetes Eat?

Protein does not harm patients suffering from Diabetes and also it does not have any serious or mild effects on blood sugar levels of the patient. In fact, patients with diabetes do not need more protein than people who do not have diabetes. Sometimes, a lesser protein is a good diet for diabetes type 2.

Protein, being one of the three important macronutrients (the other two are carbs and fat), is required in large amounts to maintain proper health and vital body functions. 

Protein is important to build, repair and maintain tissues and organs of the body. It is also very important to the well functioning of the immune system and some additional physiological processes. 

DAILY PROTEIN INTAKE

If a patient has healthy kidneys, then about 10 to 35 percent of your daily calorie intake must come from protein. This exact amount of protein is also required for people who do not suffer from diabetes. Apart from this, 45 to 65 percent of calorie intake in every person must come from carbohydrates and the rest should come from fat.

Important: According to some health experts, it is more appropriate to follow the standard formula of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram.

For kilogram conversion, you are advised to divide weight in pounds by 2.2. For example, if your weight is 150 pounds i.e. 68 kgs, then multiply it by 0.8 to get a protein goal of 54 grams. 

According to the guidelines of USDA Dietary, it is advised to consume 5.5 ounces of protein-rich diet every day. Some of the food items that contain rish amounts of protein are:

• Meat
• Fish
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Dairy products
• Legumes
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Chicken

Some suggestions: 

• Half chicken breast – 29 grams of protein
• A cup of black beans – 29 grams of protein
• Egg – 6 grams of protein
• A cup of low-fat milk – 8 grams of protein
• Three-ounce portion of steak – 26 grams of protein

Choosing proteins

What is most important to keep in mind while choosing protein is the fats and carbs that the particular foods contain. Some types of carbohydrates quickly convert into glucose. Also, a high fat and high carb diet increases the chances  of weight gain, which can eventually lead to unmanageable blood sugar levels.

According to the American Diabetes Association, it is recommended to consume fish at least twice a week as it contains rich amounts of protein. The association also suggests that people should consume red meat and processed meats like ham, hot dogs and bacon in limited quantities as they contain high amounts of saturated fats. Instead, you must add lean meats to your meals as they bring a healthy balance in your diet.

HIGH PROTEIN DIET

Whenever a person, diabetic or healthy, starts having a high protein diet, it apparently makes changes in the normal blood sugar levels of the person, but in the longer run, it does not provide as good results.

According to many types of research, starting to have higher amounts of protein in your diet does not make any big impact on how sugar is consumed or absorbed inside your body. Hence, it does not have any long-term effects on your blood sugar levels.

If a patient suffering from diabetes switches to a high protein diet, any curative benefit is due to the concurrent depletion and closer regulation of carbohydrate consumption, not the protein itself. It is one of the most important points for a consistent carb diet that will help in controlling diabetes.

It is noteworthy that not everyone should consume a high protein diet and it is not suitable for everyone. Besides, you also need to take good care of your eating habits.

There are many studies performed on meals rich in fats and protein. For people with Type 1 diabetes, insulin needs to be increased after one of these meals. Because of this, many researchers recommend closely monitoring glucose levels. 

Diabetic Nephropathy 

Patients who are suffering from diabetic nephropathy, a kind of kidney disease related to diabetes, should consume less protein. In such cases, it is recommended to consume about one gram or less protein per kg of body weight. 

It is advised to consult your healthcare provider as he will suggest the amount of protein we need each day. An excess amount of protein could be bad for your kidneys and too little amount of protein could lead to weight loss and malnutrition. 

Personalised Protein Intake 

Patients suffering from diabetes must have to take personalized protein intake recommendations. A well balanced diet plays a very important role in managing diabetes. 

Consult your medical practitioner, he will suggest your protein needs. You can also take advice from a certified diabetes educator or dietitian specialized in medical nutrition therapy. 

7 Days Indian Diet Chart

DAY	BREAKFAST	LUNCH	DINNER
MONDAY	1. Sambar with 2 idlis or rice bowl 2. Paneer Sandwich with mint chutney	Whole-grain roti with one bowl of Dal and mixed-vegetable	Chicken or Tofu with mixed vegetables 2- Spinach Salad or 2 multigrain rotis with chicken
TUESDAY	1. Pancakes made of chana dal2. Mixed veggies3. A glass of milk of bread and egg with fruits	Chickpea curry with brown rice/ Brown rice with dal	Khichdi with sprout salad/Veg paratha with raita
WEDNESDAY	Apple cinnamon porridge/ Vegetable uttapam with sambhar	Whole-grain roti with tofu/ non veg and mixed vegetables	Palak paneer with brown rice and vegetables/ 2 Multigrain rotis with chicken and curd
THURSDAY	Yogurt with sliced fruits and sunflower seeds/ vegetable poha	Whole-grain roti with vegetable sabzi/ Dal with veg or non veg sabzi and brown rice	Chana masala with basmati rice and green salad/ One bowl of fruits and vegetables with multigrain rotis
FRIDAY	Vegetable dalia and a glass of milk/ 3-4 dal paddu with sambar	Vegetable sambar with brown rice/ 2 multigrain roti with veg/non veg curry	Tofu curry with potatoes and mixed vegetables/ chicken curry with 2 multigrain rotis
SATURDAY	Multigrain parathas with avocado and sliced papaya/ dal paratha with mixed vegetables	Large salad with rajma curry and quinoa/ one bowl mixed vegetable kadai	Lentil pancakes with tofu tikka masala/ green salad with mixed vegetables and multigrain roti
SUNDAY	Buckwheat porridge with sliced mango/ fruit salad with a glass of milk	Vegetable soup with whole-grain roti/ one bowl millet and dal khichdi with multigrain roti	Masala-baked tofu with vegetable curry/ non veg curry (chicken, seafood) with multigrain roti