Does a higher-protein diet help people with type 2 diabetes?

Scientists randomly assigned 106 adults with type 2 diabetes and excess weight to follow a weight-loss diet with either 40 percent or 21 percent of calories from protein. Those on the high-protein diet were told to eat at least four weekly servings of lean beef. (The beef industry partly funded the study.)

After a year, weight, hemoglobin A1c (a long-term measure of blood sugar), insulin resistance, blood pressure, and triglycerides fell equally in both groups. And there was no difference in muscle loss between groups.

What to do

Got type 2 diabetes? There’s no need to eat extra protein.