Plant Proteins for People with Diabetes

For people with diabetic kidney disease, changing the source of protein in the diet as a treatment is being studied. Whether plant proteins (beans, nuts, vegetables, tofu) are preferred over animal proteins (meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs) has not been decided.

Discuss the latest research with your diabetes professionals. We do know that people in other countries who eat less meat and more soy protein and rice have fewer cancers and heart disease than Americans who eat lots of animal protein.

Animal protein contains all eight essential amino acids that you need to build cells in the body. Because your body can't make them, your food choices must supply them. However, eating a variety of plant proteins each day can also provide all the amino acids that you need.

Plant proteins have benefits for people with diabetes. Plant foods are low in fat, especially saturated fat, and high in fiber. Animal protein adds cholesterol and saturated fat to our diets. People with diabetes have a greater risk of heart disease earlier in life; therefore it is important to decrease saturated fat and cholesterol.