Protein Intake Among Patients with Insulin-Treated Diabetes is Linked to Poor Glycemic Control: Findings of NHANES Data

Abstract

Background

Nutrition therapy is considered a key component of diabetes management. Recently, high-protein diets have gained in popularity. Understanding the glycemic effect of dietary protein among patients with diabetes has been of particular interest.

Methods

This study is based on NHANES data of 990 participants aged 40 years and older from the NHANES cohorts of 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 surveys. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c level) was used as indicator of glycemic control. Patients were categorized into quartiles for daily protein intake. Average protein intakes for patients in quartile 1 to quartile 4 were 35.5 g, 58.7 g, 79.9 g, and 131.6 g, respectively. Covariates included in the analysis were gender, age, race, caloric intake, muscle strength, education, income, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption, and BMI.

Results

After controlling for covariates, patients in quartile 4 of protein intake had 261% increased risk of poor glycemic control compared with those in quartile 1 (95% CI: 1.29–5.30). The association was not attenuated after further control for insulin use (OR = 1.94; 95% CI: 0.89–4.24). In conclusion, higher protein intake seems related to a worse glycemic control in diabetic subjects.

Keywords:

• protein intake
• diabetes
• insulin

Acknowledgment

The abstract of this paper was presented Qatar University Annual Research Forum and Exhibition (2020) as a poster presentation with interim findings. The poster’s abstract was uploaded to the Qatar University repository: https://qspace.qu.edu.qa/handle/10576/16732 Reference.³⁶ The APC charges were funded by QU-Health.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.