I like the Kirkland Protein bars because they have very few carbs overall. 21g protein, 4g “net” carbs, 1g sugar. Lots of soluble fiber.
I don’t eat them every day, but I do one after eating out. They aren’t the best tasting, but they are the cheapest and lowest carb protein bars I’ve found. I also like the Premier Protein drinks you can get from Costco. High protein (30g), low carbs (4g), and not too bad taste. Again, cheapest pre-workout protein drink I’ve found.
The amount of protein you need, and the amount of protein you can process without hurting your kidneys, is directly related to how much you exercise. Gluconeogenesis only kicks in if you are eating more protein than you require for maintenance or building of muscle. The real problem you’re describing is not that diabetics eat too much protein, it’s that we tend to not match our protein intake and exercise.
Which isn’t surprising, considering that the ADA recommends just walking 3 times a week, which doesn’t actually do an enormous amount for your heart, your glucose metabolism, or anything else. It’s good, assuming that “bad” by comparison is sitting or lying down 24 hours a day. If a diabetic actually gets out and exercises seriously, by which I mean a combination of endurance and strength-training, you can do extraordinary things for your metabolism. And your kidneys will thank you while you’ve been eating all the protein you can stomach.
David,
I agree strongly with what you said about the pitiful exercise recommendations from the ADA. I managed with diet (low GI carbs) and exercise for 16 years without needing meds but it required a disciplined activity program. Three times a day - immediately after each major meal - I did a brisk 40 minute walk. Twice a week instead of my regular evening walk I walked up and down a 1000 stair stairwell 12 times. In addition to dropping my initial body weight at diagnosis in 1998 and in 18 months from 224 lbs to 170 lbs I was able to maintain an hbaic in the 5.0 range for all those years…
My priority was to avoid going on meds. I have a sensitive metabolism with an inherited disorder called hemochromatosis, high blood pressure, psoriasis and atrial fibrillation and adding more meds to my daily doses was the last thing I wanted to do.
I have had a break from exercising due to work but intend to resume my previous program when I retire this coming summer.
Right on! That sounds like great progress 
I’ve noticed the best improvement in my metabolism (since diagnosis) from resuming serious strength training. I’ve always been fairly fit: I work in the mountains during the summer, bike or walk to work every day, and play sports (once competitively, now for fun). What I was neglecting (while I was in grad school) was going to the gym and lifting weights.
I started doing some serious gymnastic/bodyweight training about a month after diagnosis, and that has made a huge difference in my body’s ability to regulate blood glucose. Increasing muscle mass relative to fat mass is magic! The endurance/aerobic exercise also helps considerably, although I have to be careful about going low.