Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes through Lifestyle Modification: Is There a Role for Higher-Protein Diets?

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) incidence is increasing worldwide, driven by a rapidly changing environment and lifestyle and increasing rates of overweight and obesity. Prevention of diabetes is key and is most likely achieved through prevention of weight gain and/or successful long-term weight loss maintenance. Weight loss is readily achievable but there is considerable challenge in maintaining that weight loss over the long term. Lower-fat carbohydrate-based diets are widely used for T2D prevention. This is supported primarily by 3 successful long-term interventions, the US Diabetes Prevention Program, the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, and the Chinese Da Qing Study, but evidence is building in support of novel higher-protein (>20% of energy) diets for successful weight loss maintenance and prevention of T2D. Higher-protein diets have the advantage of having relatively low energy density, aiding longer-term appetite suppression, and preserving lean body mass, all central to successful weight loss and prevention of weight regain. Here, we review the carbohydrate-based intervention trials and present mechanistic evidence in support of increased dietary protein for weight loss maintenance and a possible novel role in prevention of dysglycemia and T2D.

Intake of different dietary proteins and risk of type 2 diabetes in men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study

“…After the additional adjustment for BMI, the extreme-quartile HR for the intake of egg protein in model 3 was 0•70 (95 % CI 0•46, 1•06). In the secondary analyses, the extreme-quartile HR for intakes of total meat, processed red meat and major plant protein sources after the additional adjustment for BMI in model 3 Because the long follow-up time may attenuate associations with the exposures that were assessed only at baseline, we also tested the associations of proteins and protein sources with the risk of T2D after 10 years of follow-up (seventy-two cases). The associations were generally similar, but only the association of egg protein intake with lower risk of T2D was statistically significant (HR 0 , respectively.…”

“…Protein-rich diets have become a popular strategy to enhance weight management and weight loss (1) . Because obesity is one of the main risk factors of type 2 diabetes (T2D) (2) , increasing protein intake may also have potential for T2D prevention (3,4) . The optimal amount and quality of protein for averting T2D is, however, controversial (3)(4)(5) .…”

“…Because obesity is one of the main risk factors of type 2 diabetes (T2D) (2) , increasing protein intake may also have potential for T2D prevention (3,4) . The optimal amount and quality of protein for averting T2D is, however, controversial (3)(4)(5) . Although shortterm interventions comparing higher v. lower protein diets have shown beneficial effects on weight loss, body composition and some metabolic markers (1,4,6,7) , the results of long-term interventions have generally been modest (1,8) .…”

Association of Random Blood Sugar with Body Mass Index in Habitants of Suburban Kathmandu District

“…This result supports the evidence from other studies that high body weight is risk factor for diabetes mellitus. [14][15][16][17] A study conducted by Onyesom Innocent et al showed that there was weak correlation between BMI and blood glucose levels among the male subjects while female subjects showed positive and strong (significant) correlation. 14 In this study, 36 (83.1%) participants with high WHR ratio hadnormal blood sugar level whereas 30 (16.9%) had high blood sugar level.…”

Development and Validation of Two Self-Reported Tools for Insulin Resistance and Hypertension Risk Assessment in A European Cohort: The Feel4Diabetes-Study

“…The main benefit of pre-diabetes early identification is that it does not require medical management. The modification of lifestyle parameters, such as increase physical activity or decrease time devoted to sedentary activities, weight loss, adopting healthy dietary habits, etc., may be important measures in order to prevent the onset of glycaemic abnormalities [41][42][43][44], and thus to lower its economic public health burden [45].…”