Protein Restriction for Diabetes

Abstract

Treating a subject with at least one of diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, or glucose intolerance, can include: during a first low-protein time period of at least 4 consecutive days, administering nutrient material to the subject such that the subject has a bodily intake of protein of less than 20 grams per day and a bodily intake of carbohydrate of at least 40 percent of the subject's bodily intake of energy; and during a first normal-protein time period of at least 4 consecutive days that is after the low-protein period, administering to the subject a normal daily bodily intake of protein of at least 40 grams.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing nutrients to a subject who at least one of diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, or glucose intolerance, comprising:
 during a first low-protein time period of at least 4 consecutive days, administering nutrient material to the subject such that the subject has a bodily intake of protein of less than 20 grams per day and a bodily intake of carbohydrate of at least 40 percent of the subject's bodily intake of energy;   wherein the nutrient material is administrable to at least one of the subject's gastrointestinal tract or intravascular space and comprises carbohydrate;   during a first normal-protein time period of at least 4 consecutive days that is after the low-protein period, administering to the subject a normal daily bodily intake of protein of at least 40 grams;   during a second low-protein time period of at least 4 consecutive days that is after first normal-protein time period, administering to the subject a bodily intake of protein of less than 20 grams per day and a bodily intake of carbohydrate of at least 40 percent of the subject's bodily intake of energy; and   during a second second low-protein time period, administering to the subject a normal daily bodily intake of protein of at least 40 grams.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is not calorie restricted. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has type 2 diabetes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has type 1 diabetes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has a bodily intake of protein of about zero grams per day during the low-protein time period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first low-protein time period is at least 5 consecutive days. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first low-protein time period is at least 6 consecutive days. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first low-protein time period is at least 7 consecutive days. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject's bodily intake of carbohydrate constitutes at least 60 percent of the subject's bodily intake of calories during the first low-protein time period. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject's bodily intake of carbohydrate constitutes at least 80 percent of the person's bodily intake of calories during the first low-protein time period. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject's bodily intake of carbohydrate is at least 100 grams per day during the first low-protein time period. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein carbohydrate in the nutrient material constitutes at least 50 percent of the caloric content of the nutrient material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein carbohydrate in the nutrient material constitutes at least 80 percent of the caloric content of the nutrient material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering the nutrient material comprises providing individually packaged servings of the nutrient material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, during the first normal-protein time period, the subject receives a bodily intake of all protein of at least 100 grams. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, during the first normal-protein time period, the subject receives a bodily intake of all protein of at least 0.6 g per kilogram of the person's body weight. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, during the first normal-protein time period, the subject receives a bodily intake of all protein of at least 0.8 g per kilogram of the subject's body weight. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first normal-protein time period is no more than 14 consecutive days. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is not calorie restricted, and the first normal-protein time period is no more than 14 consecutive days.