Protein intake before exercise may cut risk of hypoglycemia

Secondary analyses were conducted from a randomised trial of an adaptive behavioural intervention to assess the relationship between protein intake (g and g/kg) consumed within 4 h before moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) bouts and glycaemia during and following MVPA bouts among adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Adolescents (n = 112) with T1D, 14.5 (13.8, 15.7) years of age and 36.6% overweight/obese, provided measures of glycaemia using continuous glucose monitoring [percentage of time above range (>180 mg/dl), time in range (70-180 mg/dl), time below range (TBR; <70 mg/dl)], self-reported physical activity (previous day physical activity recalls), and 24 h dietary recall data at baseline and 6 months post-intervention. Mixed effects regression models adjusted for design (randomisation assignment, study site), demographic, clinical, anthropometric, dietary, physical activity and timing covariates estimated the association between pre-exercise protein intake on the percentage of time above range, time in range and TBR during and following moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Results: Pre-exercise protein intakes of 10-19.9 g and >20 g were associated with an absolute reduction of -4.41% (p = .04) and -4.83% (p = .02) TBR during physical activity compared with those who did not consume protein before moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

Similarly, relative protein intakes of 0.125-0.249 g/kg and ≥0.25 g/kg were associated with -5.38% (p = .01) and -4.32% (p = .03) absolute reductions in TBR during physical activity. We did not observe a significant association between protein intake and glycaemia measures following moderate-to-vigorous physical activity bouts. Among adolescents with T1D, a dose of ≥10 g or ≥0.125 g/kg of protein within 4 h before moderate-to-vigorous physical activity may promote reduced time in hypoglycaemia during, but not following, physical activity.

Reference:

Muntis FR, Crandell JL, Evenson KR, Maahs DM, Seid M, Shaikh SR, Smith-Ryan AE, Mayer-Davis E. Pre-exercise protein intake is associated with reduced time in hypoglycaemia among adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024 Jan 15. doi: 10.1111/dom.15438. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38221862.