The Study
A randomised trial comparing low-fat diets differing in carbohydrate and protein ratio, combined with regular moderate intensity exercise, on glycaemic control, cardiometabolic risk factors, food cravings, cognitive function and psychological wellbeing in adults with type 2 diabetes: Study protocol.
This study compared two diets in people with type 2 diabetes to see which one helped more with blood sugar and mood. It’s like a fair test where people were randomly picked to eat one diet or the other. We can say one diet might be better, but we can’t say for sure it caused the improvement because people knew which diet they were eating.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Two groups of people with type 2 diabetes ate different diets for 6 months — one ate more protein and less carbs, the other ate more carbs and less protein. Both lost the same amount of weight and exercised the same amount.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 559 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — even without losing more weight, eating more protein helped lower blood sugar levels, which is important for managing diabetes.
- 2The high-protein group lowered their HbA1c (blood sugar marker) more than the high-carb group.
- 3There was no big difference in body fat or muscle loss between groups.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Contemporary clinical trials
Year
2015
Authors
N. Watson, K. Dyer, J. Buckley, G. Brinkworth, A. Coates, G. Parfitt, Peter R C Howe, M. Noakes, L. Dye, H. Chadwick, K. Murphy
Related Content
Claims (4)
Among overweight adults with type 2 diabetes, a diet high in protein and low in fat combined with moderate exercise results in the same changes in body composition as a higher-carbohydrate diet after 24 weeks, even when both diets lead to the same amount of weight loss.
In overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes, a diet higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates, combined with regular moderate exercise, leads to greater reductions in HbA1c levels over 24 weeks compared to a diet lower in protein and higher in carbohydrates.
In adults with type 2 diabetes, following a high-protein diet with moderate exercise for 24 weeks does not change cognitive function compared to eating a higher-carbohydrate diet.
In adults with type 2 diabetes, a diet high in protein combined with moderate exercise for 24 weeks reduces cravings for carbohydrates and sweets compared to a diet higher in carbohydrates.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.