What is the best protein powder for diabetics to gain muscle​?

Looking for the best protein powder for diabetics to gain muscle? Discover how to safely supplement your protein intake with diabetes.

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Protein powder and diabetic muscle gain

Can protein powder help diabetics build muscle? 

If you want to build muscle, you have to eat lots of protein.

Muscle growth can occur only if muscle protein synthesis exceeds muscle protein breakdown, which is a balance regulated, in part, by dietary protein intake.

Your body needs amino acids to build and repair muscle. It can synthesize some amino acids itself, but others must come from food.

These amino acids, also known as “essential” amino acids, are the reason why you cannot build muscle without meeting your daily dietary protein needs.

Exactly how much protein you need depends on a number of factors, including your age, weight, and activity level.

That said, research shows that a dietary protein intake above the normal recommendation is better for diabetics

Diabetics should aim to eat at least 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, but could benefit from as much as 2 grams per kilogram of bodyweight in some cases.

If you struggle to eat this much protein every day, adding a protein powder to your diet might be a good idea, especially if you want to build muscle.

That said, not all protein powders are created equal.

What is the best protein powder for diabetics to gain muscle​?

Many protein powders are made with ingredients that are not suitable for diabetics. Among these ingredients are added sugars, food additives, and protein concentrates and isolates. 

Avoid added sugars

Diabetics should avoid protein powders with lots of Added Sugars, as they can trigger blood glucose spikes. Naturally occurring sugars like those found in fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, are safe to eat.

Avoid food additives

Diabetics should also avoid food additives. Regularly eating emulsifiers, thickeners, other additives can not only upset your stomach, but also alter the composition of your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut.

This can lead to gut dysbiosis, which is linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes, as well as reduced efficacy of diabetic medications. 

Although the exact mechanisms by which this happens are still unknown, it is thought that gut dysbiosis increases intestinal permeability and inflammation, causing abnormalities in glucose metabolism and signaling events that contribute to insulin homeostasis.

Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein supplements:

• acacia fiber
• acacia gum
• acesulfame potassium
• artificial flavors
• ascorbic acid
• aspartame
• calcium carbonate
• carrageenan
• cellulose gum
• dextrin
• dicalcium phosphate
• dipotassium phosphate
• erythritol
• gellan gum
• guar gum
• gum arabic
• inulin
• locust bean gum
• maltitol
• maltodextrin
• mono- and diglycerides
• ‘natural’ flavors
• rice bran extract
• rice dextrin
• rice hulls
• rosemary extract
• silica
• silicon dioxide
• sodium alginate
• soluble corn fiber
• sorbitol
• soy lecithin
• sucralose
• sunflower lecithin
• tocopherols
• tricalcium phosphate
• xanthan gum
• xylitol
• zinc oxide

It is worth noting that artificial sweeteners are among the most problematic food additives for diabetics.

Not only have several studies shown that artificial sweeteners may increase cravings toward sugary and sweet foods, but researchers have also found a link between the consumption of artificial sweeteners and a higher risk of glucose intolerance, which is a precursor for pre-diabetes and diabetes.

Avoid protein concentrates and isolates

Most protein powders are made from protein concentrates and isolates, which have been mechanically and or chemically stripped of everything but the protein, including the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help you break them down.

As a result, they can cause digestive issues and possibly even disruptions to your gut microbiome, which, as you just learned, is something diabetics should take very seriously. 

Moreover, while extremely high-protein foods like these are low on the glycemic index, they can measure high on the insulin index.

As a result, they can cause hyperinsulinemia (abnormally high levels of insulin) because eating large amounts of protein without fats, carbs, fiber, etc. has an insulinotropic effect (it promotes insulin secretion).

This matters in the context of weight management because hyperinsulinemia perpetuates insulin resistance, which can cause muscle wasting.

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Drink Wholesome is the best protein powder for muscle gain for diabetics.

Finding a protein powder free from added sugars, food additives, and protein concentrates and isolates is hard.

In fact, 99% of protein supplements contain one or more of these problematic ingredients, which is why we created Drink Wholesome.

We make the best protein powder for diabetics to gain muscle because we use a short list of simple ingredients.

Our Ingredients

egg whites

coconut

vanilla

monk fruit

NOT Our Ingredients

• acacia gum

• acesulfame potassium

• artificial flavors

• carrageenan

• erythritol

• guar gum

• inulin

• maltodextrin

• 'natural' flavors

• silica

• soy lecithin

• sucralose

• xanthan gum

• xylitol

Note that instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we use whole food protein sources like collagen, egg whites, and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

It follows that our customers experience fewer digestive issues and an easier time gaining weight with our protein powder than with any other type of protein supplement. Order samples to see for yourself.