Research
Hormonal
Dairy-based proteins, particularly whey, improve insulin sensitivity and muscle protein synthesis more effectively than other protein sources due to their insulinotropic properties and leucine content.
Incorporate 2-4 servings of dairy or 20-84g of whey protein daily. Whey is particularly effective because it stimulates insulin release without spiking blood sugar, helping to manage glucose and build muscle. Yogurt with probiotics is also beneficial for gut health and insulin sensitivity.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The milk proteins, casein and particularly whey, have insulinotropic properties, meaning they enhance the release of insulin, while maintaining a low glycemic response.
Why this rating
Supported by prospective trials and meta-analyses cited in the review.
Source
Nutritional Strategies to Combat Type 2 Diabetes in Aging Adults: The Importance of Protein
Kayleigh M. Beaudry et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2019
DOI 10.3389/fnut.2019.00138
narrative_reviewCited 42×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Increasing daily protein intake to 1.0–1.5 g/kg/day in older adults improves glycemic control and preserves muscle mass, counteracting age-related sarcopenia and insulin resistance.Good
- Combining high protein intake with resistance exercise synergistically increases muscle mass and improves insulin sensitivity more than either intervention alone in older adults with T2D.Good
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