Use of Diabetes-Specific Protein Supplement Improves Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes: Study
India: Researchers have discovered in a new study that using a diabetes-specific protein supplement as a partial breakfast replacement improves blood glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without significantly affecting insulin response.
In real-world use, Diabetes-Specific Protein Supplement increases protein intake and reduces glycemic variability (GV), supporting its role as a practical, well-tolerated approach to enhance glycemic control and achieve better macronutrient balance in T2DM.
A randomized crossover study from India, published in Diabetes Therapy by Sheryl S. Salis of Nurture Health Solutions, Mumbai, and colleagues, highlights the role of a diabetes-specific protein supplement (DSPS) in reducing postprandial glucose spikes associated with traditional high–glycemic index Indian breakfasts such as upma and poha.
The open-label study included 42 adults with T2DM who followed two breakfast regimens for five days each, separated by a three-day washout. Participants consumed either a partially replaced breakfast with DSPS (Protinex Diabetes Care mixed with milk plus a smaller portion of a traditional meal) or an isocaloric conventional breakfast, allowing each individual to serve as their own control.
Postprandial glucose and insulin levels were measured for three hours on the first day of each phase to assess iAUC and peak glucose rise. Dietary intake during home use was evaluated through recalls, while continuous glucose monitoring was used to assess daily glycemic variability.
The study led to the following findings:
• Use of the diabetes-specific protein supplement led to a substantial improvement in postprandial glycemia, with nearly a 60% reduction in glucose iAUC over three hours compared with the control breakfast.
• Peak postprandial glucose rise was reduced by almost half in the DSPS group.
• Insulin responses did not differ significantly between the DSPS and control breakfasts, indicating improved glycemic control without increased insulin demand.
• In real-world use, DSPS intake increased to nearly 9 g in daily protein consumption.
• Glycemic variability was significantly reduced during the DSPS phase, as reflected by lower mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE).
• The supplement was well accepted by participants, with no reported gastrointestinal complaints or adverse events.
The authors acknowledged certain limitations, including the short duration of the intervention and the open-label design, which was unavoidable due to differences between the test and control breakfasts. CGM monitoring also began after initial blood sampling, missing early-day glucose patterns. However, the use of objective endpoints and a crossover design helped minimize bias and measurement errors.
Overall, the study suggests that partially replacing high-carbohydrate Indian breakfasts with a diabetes-specific protein supplement can significantly improve postprandial glucose control, enhance protein intake, and reduce glycemic variability. These results support DSPS as a feasible, safe, and culturally adaptable strategy to improve daily glycemic management and promote sustainable dietary modifications in people with T2DM.
Reference:
Salis, S.S., Sanghvi, A., Vora, N. et al. Effect of a Diabetes-Specific Protein Supplement (DSPS) on Postprandial Glycemic Responses in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Crossover Study in India. Diabetes Ther (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-025-01834-4
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