Protein and the diet for diabetes

Protein is an essential component of your diet as a person with diabetes. The primary role of protein is building and repairing your body tissues. Protein also regulates the pH level of your blood (which promotes optimal environmental conditions in your blood), ensures proper fluid balance, and promotes wound healing. It also helps fight infections and deliver oxygen throughout your body.

Protein can also be broken down and used for energy, if necessary.

Most animal proteins contribute saturated fat and cholesterol to the diet, and they may also be high in calories. Because you have diabetes, you need to monitor your intake of these foods to decrease your risk for complications, such as high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

If your kidney function is impaired, you may have trouble eliminating the waste products of protein digestion. These waste products can build up in your bloodstream and be released in your urine. You may need to limit the amount of protein in your diet. A registered dietitian can help you set up a low-protein meal plan.

Foods that contain protein

Primary sources of protein in the diet include:

• Meat.
• Eggs.
• Fish.
• Poultry.
• Milk and milk products.
• Legumes.
• Nuts.

Animal sources of protein differ from plant sources in the quality of the protein present. Animal sources of protein are said to be complete or high-quality protein because they contain all of the essential amino acids (the final breakdown product of protein digestion) that your body needs. Plant proteins are said to be incomplete, because they do not contain all of the essential amino acids.