I used to drink a protein shake after the gym before I got diagnosed .Now I'm kind of scared of doing that by fear the shake might raise my BG. Am I justified by feeling this way?

Amy Campbell


It’s certainly possible that drinking a protein shake could raise your blood glucose levels. Much of this depends on what’s in the shake -- particularly, how much carbohydrate . Protein tends to have a minimal effect on blood glucose levels, although it does contain calories. If the protein is combined with a carbohydrate source, such as milk, juice or even sugar, that carbohydrate could raise your blood glucose. On the other hand, exercise generally lowers blood glucose levels, so it may be okay to have the shake. The best thing to do is to check your blood glucose before and after your workout. Make sure your blood glucose is in a safe range (or within your target range) before drinking the shake. Then, check your blood glucose about 2 hours after drinking the shake. If it’s high (above 180), you may need to drink less of the shake or stop drinking it completely. Experiment and see what works best for you.

June 10, 2014 at 11:35 pm