A small study reveals that taking a few shots of whey protein supplement may assist persons with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar.

 A small research published May 26 in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care reveals that a couple of shots of whey protein before meals may help persons with diabetes control their blood sugar levels.

A randomised controlled trial including 18 persons with type 2 diabetes was done by Newcastle University in the United Kingdom to see if a specifically developed pre-meal drink may avoid blood sugar increases.

Participants were given a modest pre-meal drink (about the equivalent of two normal shot glasses) containing either 15 g of protein or zero protein as a control group. For a week, participants were allocated to consume either the test or the control beverage 10 minutes it before every meal, three times per day.

When compared to when they didn't drink the protein, the researchers discovered that the protein injection helped participants stabilise their blood sugar levels for longer, giving them an extra two hours per day of normal blood sugar levels.

Even though they didn't change their regular habits, participants had decreased blood sugar readings on average during the day when they drank the protein.

According to Daniel West, senior author of the study and senior lecturer at Newcastle University, the findings are the first to indicate that including a protein drink can assist people manage their diabetes in a free-living setting outside of a lab.

"As more individuals get diabetes around the world," he added in a press statement, "investigating the potential of alternatives to medications like food supplements becomes more crucial."

According to previous study, "pre-loading" protein prior a meal helps control blood sugar and hunger.

It works by slowing digestion, allowing glucose (sugar) from carbohydrates to be taken more slowly, and increasing hormone production to control blood sugar levels, according to West.

However, several previous investigations discovered protein supplements to be cumbersome and unappealing because they require mixing and preparing the drink right before a meal, according to the researchers.

According to Kieran Smith, a Newcastle University PhD student who monitored the glucose monitoring and evaluated the data, providing a ready-to-drink alternative may make the plan easier to sustain.

"People were able to stick to the schedule, and they loved the idea of having a simple, pleasant, tiny pre-made drink that they could carry with them and drink before meals," he stated in a press release.

The researchers said that more research is necessary to test the findings on a wider population with varied demographics, as well as to see if alternative sources of protein, such as plant-based supplements, are similarly useful.

Dietitians recently told Insider that adding protein with your dinner can help regulate blood sugar and make you feel more full and satisfied.