The research review pulled the results of 16 trials involving 244 total people, including healthy adults and people with metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. When people consumed whey protein before a meal, their peak blood sugar was lower compared to people who didn’t have whey protein. Whey protein also results in lower blood sugar up to an hour after a meal. The effect of whey protein on blood sugar had more of an effect on people with type 2 diabetes, obesity, or other metabolic conditions. Whey protein could put a lid on blood sugar for up to two hours for people with type 2 diabetes.
Whey protein increases GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which stimulate insulin from the pancreas. The researchers believe this increase in the GLP-1 hormone helps slow the food emptying in the stomach, which could also help with the reduction in blood sugar. Although adding whey protein to the diet will increase the total calories for the day, the study said that people’s weight remained stable because they ate fewer calories in their meals and had less of an appetite.
