Pre-Exercise Whey and Pea Protein in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

September 22, 2026 updated by: Sondos Al-Obaidi, University of Jordan

Effects of Pre-Exercise Whey and Pea Protein Intake on Glycemic Responses and Postprandial Appetite During and After Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Exercise in Jordanian Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether drinking whey protein or pea protein before exercise affects blood sugar levels and appetite in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The study will also compare two different amounts of each type of protein.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

  • Does drinking whey or pea protein before exercise affect blood sugar levels during and after moderate-intensity exercise?
  • Does the amount of protein consumed before exercise affect blood sugar levels?
  • Does whey or pea protein affect feelings of hunger, fullness, and satiety after exercise?

Researchers will compare four conditions: a low and moderate amount of whey protein and a low and moderate amount of pea protein. Each participant will complete all four conditions on separate study visits, allowing researchers to compare the effects within the same person.

Participants will:

  • Drink a protein beverage 45 min before exercise.
  • Complete 45 min moderate-intensity aerobic exercise under supervision.
  • Wear a continuous glucose monitor to measure blood sugar levels during and after exercise.
  • Report their feelings of hunger, fullness, and satiety at several times during the study.
  • Follow the same general food, physical activity, and diabetes management instructions before each study visit.

The study may help researchers understand whether the type and amount of protein consumed before exercise can help manage blood sugar levels and appetite around exercise in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

12 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male and female adolescents with T1D
  • Age: 12-18 years
  • T1D duration ≥ 1 year and HbA1c <10%
  • BMI-for Age- z-score between -2 and +2
  • Able to complete 45 min moderate-intensity aerobic exercise
  • Using CGM or willing / able to wear study CGM
  • Using multiple daily injections

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Medical comorbidities (celiac disease and thyroid disease),
  • Diabetes complications or gastroparesis,
  • milk protein allergy or eating disorders,
  • severe hypo/ diabetic ketoacidosis in the past 3 months
  • Age: <12 or > 18 years
  • T1D duration < 1 year or HbA1c ≥10%
  • BMI -for Age- z-score < -2 or > +2
  • Unable to exercise safely (physical limitations, intellectual disability, autism, mental health conditions)
  • Not using/willing/able to use CGM
  • Using once daily/mixed insulin regimens

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: low whey protein

Participants will consume a whey protein beverage providing 0.25 g of protein per kg of body weight, 45 minutes before moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. They will then complete the standardized exercise session under supervision. Glucose levels and appetite will be monitored during and after exercise.
Dietary supplement: low whey protein

Participants will consume a whey protein beverage providing 0.25 g of protein per kg of body weight, 45 minutes before moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. They will then complete the standardized exercise session under supervision. Glucose levels and appetite will be monitored during and after exercise.
Experimental: moderate whey protein

Participants will consume a whey protein beverage providing the moderate prespecified dose of protein per kg of body weight, 45 minutes before moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. They will then complete the standardized exercise session under supervision. Glucose levels and appetite will be monitored during and after exercise.
Dietary supplement: moderate whey protein

Participants will consume a whey protein beverage providing the moderate prespecified dose of protein per kg of body weight, 45 minutes before moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. They will then complete the standardized exercise session under supervision. Glucose levels and appetite will be monitored during and after exercise.
Experimental: low pea protein
Dietary supplement: low Pea protein

Participants will consume a pea protein beverage providing 0.25 g of protein per kg of body weight, 45 minutes before moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. They will then complete the standardized exercise session under supervision. Glucose levels and appetite will be monitored during and after exercise.
Experimental: moderate pea protein
Dietary supplement: Moderate Pea protein

Participants will consume a pea protein beverage providing the moderate prespecified dose of protein per kg of body weight, 45 minutes before moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. They will then complete the standardized exercise session under supervision. Glucose levels and appetite will be monitored during and after exercise.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Continuous blood glucose levels using CGM "FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor"
Time Frame: 3 hours
3 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
postprandial appetite using VAS
Time Frame: 3 hours
3 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Jordan

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 10, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 22, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 22, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UJ-T1D-PRO-2026
  • UJ IRB Approval Number (Other Identifier: University of Jordan)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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