Fish can Help Diabetes Patients

Eating at least two servings of fish each week seems to protect people with diabetes who also have kidney disease, that fish consumption lowers abnormal levels of protein in the urine in people with diabetes.

Abnormal amounts of protein appear in the urine when the kidneys are damaged; it's a key indicator of kidney disease. Previous studies have shown that fish and fish oil consumption decrease protein in the urine, increase glucose tolerance, decrease fats in the blood, and lower blood pressure -- all benefits to people with diabetes.

While there is no cure for the disease, a balanced diet and a lifestyle that includes regular exercise and weight loss for those who are overweight or obese helps slow the progression of complications.

Urine tests and dietary-lifestyle questionnaires led to the finding that those with diabetes who on average ate less than one serving of fish each week were four times likelier to have macroalbuminuria (abnormally high levels of protein in the urine) than those who eat fish regularly.

For the people without diabetes in the study, eating fish showed no difference in urine-protein levels.Protein in the urine is one of the earliest signs of kidney disease

Everyone underwent a medical examination, kept a food diary, and completed a food-frequency questionnaire. At the beginning and end of the study, their urine was taken to determine protein levels.

Fish consumption was defined as average weekly intake of fried fish, oily fish, white fish, and fish fingers.
it's unclear whether it's the fish oil or the type of protein in fish that protects the kidneys. And the study makes no distinction between eating fried vs. unfried fish or warm-water vs. cold-water fish like mackerel and salmon. The study simply shows that eating more of it has a protective effect on kidney function in those with diabetes.