What Supplements Can a Diabetic Take to Gain Weight?

October 27, 2025 •

5 min read

According to the CDC, over 38 million Americans have diabetes, a condition often associated with weight management challenges. While many focus on weight loss, some individuals with diabetes need to gain weight, and knowing what supplements can a diabetic take to gain weight is crucial for doing so safely and effectively, without causing blood sugar spikes.

Quick Summary

This guide explores supplements suitable for diabetics to gain weight, including specific protein powders, creatine, and diabetic-friendly nutritional shakes. It outlines dietary strategies, safety precautions, and the importance of professional consultation to achieve healthy weight gain goals while managing blood sugar levels.

Key Points

Low-Sugar Protein Powders: Whey protein isolate, casein, and plant-based options like pea or soy are effective for increasing protein intake without spiking blood sugar.
Creatine with Caution: Creatine monohydrate can help build muscle mass, especially when combined with resistance training, and may improve glucose uptake, but should be taken with water to avoid sugary mixers.
Focus on Nutrient-Dense Calories: Prioritize healthy fats from sources like MCT oil, avocados, and nut butters to increase calorie intake without relying on simple carbohydrates.
Consider Diabetic-Specific Shakes: Nutritional shakes like Glucerna or Boost's diabetic line are formulated to provide extra calories and nutrients with better blood sugar control than standard shakes.
Always Consult a Professional: Before adding any supplement, a diabetic individual must consult a doctor or dietitian to ensure it is safe and appropriate for their specific condition and medication regimen.
Incorporate Resistance Training: To ensure weight gain is primarily muscle mass rather than fat, engage in regular strength or resistance training exercises.

Understanding Healthy Weight Gain with Diabetes

For individuals with diabetes, gaining weight can be a complex process that requires careful attention to nutritional needs and blood sugar management. Unlike gaining weight by consuming high-sugar, high-calorie junk foods, a healthy approach for diabetics focuses on increasing calorie and protein intake through nutrient-dense foods and appropriate supplementation. This strategy helps to build muscle mass rather than just increasing body fat, which is healthier for blood sugar control. Before starting any new supplement regimen, it is vital to consult a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian.

The Role of Protein Supplements

Protein is a cornerstone of any weight gain plan aimed at building muscle. For diabetics, low-sugar protein powders are an excellent way to boost calorie and protein intake without causing significant blood glucose fluctuations.

Whey Protein Isolate: This is a highly refined form of whey that has most of the lactose and fat removed, resulting in a purer protein source with minimal carbohydrates. For diabetics, whey protein isolate is a top choice due to its rapid digestion and low impact on blood sugar. Some studies even suggest it may help improve insulin response.
Casein Protein: Known as a "slow-digesting" protein, casein provides a steady release of amino acids into the bloodstream over several hours. This can be beneficial for appetite control and muscle repair, making it a good option for a pre-bedtime snack. Choose low-carb options to keep blood sugar stable.
Plant-Based Protein Powders: For those with lactose intolerance or who prefer a vegan diet, options like pea, brown rice, and soy protein powders are effective alternatives. Soy protein isolate, in particular, is very low in sugar and has been shown to offer health benefits for individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Creatine Monohydrate for Muscle Mass

Creatine is one of the most researched and effective supplements for increasing muscle mass and strength. Recent research suggests that creatine, when combined with exercise, may improve glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes.

How it works: Creatine helps the body produce more energy for high-intensity exercise, allowing for more effective resistance training that builds muscle. It has also been shown to enhance the uptake of glucose into muscle cells.
Safety for diabetics: Creatine monohydrate is generally considered safe for diabetics, but it is important to take it with plain water to avoid hidden sugars from juices or other high-carb sports drinks. High doses may affect kidney function, so proper hydration is essential, and those with pre-existing kidney issues should be cautious. A consultation with a doctor is necessary to confirm it is appropriate for your specific health needs.

Calorie-Dense Options and Nutritional Shakes

While supplements are valuable, whole foods should always form the foundation of a weight gain diet. For those with a small appetite, calorie-dense foods and specialized nutritional shakes can make a significant difference.

Healthy Fats: Incorporating healthy fats, such as MCT oil, nut butters, avocados, and olive oil, can add a high number of calories with minimal effect on blood sugar. While MCT oil can aid weight gain, some studies show mixed long-term effects on insulin resistance, so use it in moderation and consult your doctor.
Diabetic-Specific Shakes: Brands like Glucerna and Boost offer shakes formulated for diabetics that are lower in sugar and carbohydrates compared to standard meal replacement drinks. They can serve as a convenient way to add calories and protein between meals or as a bedtime snack.

Supplement Comparison for Diabetic Weight Gain

This table provides a quick comparison of popular supplements for diabetic weight gain, highlighting their primary function and blood sugar considerations.


Supplement	Primary Function	Blood Sugar Consideration	Best For	Best Time to Take
Whey Protein Isolate	Building muscle mass quickly	Low-carb, minimal sugar, may improve insulin response	Fast protein source post-workout or in smoothies	Post-workout or between meals
Casein Protein	Slow, sustained muscle repair	Slow digestion, stabilizes blood sugar	Bedtime snack or long gaps between meals	Before sleep
Creatine Monohydrate	Increases strength and muscle volume	No direct glycemic effect (if taken with water)	Supporting strength and resistance training	Any time, but often taken with a meal or shake
MCT Oil	Adds calories from healthy fat; quick energy source	Can improve insulin sensitivity in the short term, but watch long-term effects	Adding calorie density to shakes or meals	With meals or shakes to boost calories
Diabetic Nutritional Shakes (e.g., Glucerna)	Meal replacement or calorie boost	Formulated with lower sugar and carbohydrates	Individuals with low appetite or as a convenient snack	Between meals or as directed

Conclusion

For a diabetic person looking to gain weight, a focused and careful approach is paramount. The key is to increase calorie intake with a strong emphasis on high-quality protein and healthy fats while minimizing simple sugars. Supplements like low-sugar protein powders (whey, casein, plant-based) and creatine can be highly effective tools when combined with a regular resistance training program. For those struggling with appetite, diabetic-specific nutritional shakes can help fill nutritional gaps. The most important step is to consult a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian to create a personalized plan that ensures safe weight gain without negatively impacting diabetes management.

Practical Steps for Success

Prioritize Protein: Ensure every meal and snack includes a good source of lean protein. Protein powders are a convenient way to supplement this intake.
Incorporate Healthy Fats: Add nuts, seeds, nut butters, and olive oil to meals to increase calorie density.
Use Supplements Wisely: Follow the guidance on low-sugar options for protein powders and take creatine with water. Start with small doses of MCT oil to assess tolerance.
Engage in Resistance Training: Strength training is essential for building muscle mass and helps the body use glucose more efficiently.
Monitor Blood Sugar Regularly: Track your glucose levels closely, especially when introducing new supplements or changing your diet, and adjust as needed in consultation with your doctor.

Remember that healthy weight gain is a gradual process. Patience, consistency, and professional guidance are the best strategies for achieving your goals safely.

Learn more about healthy weight gain strategies for diabetics

Frequently Asked Questions

High-quality, low-sugar protein powders, especially whey protein isolate and plant-based proteins, are generally safe for diabetics and do not cause significant blood sugar spikes. Some studies even suggest protein intake can help moderate post-meal blood sugar levels. Always check the nutrition label for added sugars and carbohydrates.

Diabetics with pre-existing kidney problems should be extremely cautious with creatine and must consult their doctor before use. While generally safe for healthy individuals, high doses of creatine can potentially affect kidney function. A healthcare provider can determine if creatine is appropriate for your specific health status.

Most commercial mass gainers are not suitable for diabetics because they are typically loaded with large amounts of simple carbohydrates and sugars to drive calorie intake, which can cause dangerous blood sugar spikes. A diabetic should instead focus on increasing calories from lean protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, potentially supplemented by low-sugar protein shakes.

MCT oil adds high-calorie, healthy fats that have a low impact on blood sugar, making it a viable option for adding calories. However, some long-term studies on high doses show mixed results regarding insulin sensitivity, and it can cause digestive issues. It should be used in moderation and discussed with a doctor.

For gaining weight, diabetics should look for specialized nutritional shakes like Glucerna or Boost Glucose Control. These products are formulated to be low in sugar and carbs while providing balanced nutrition to help manage blood sugar. They are designed for meal replacement or calorie boosting between meals.

While vitamins like B12 and D are crucial for overall health and nerve function, especially for diabetics, they are not weight gain supplements themselves. They address deficiencies that can cause health problems but do not directly increase calorie intake or muscle mass. Consult a doctor to check for deficiencies.

The timing of supplements for weight gain is important. Protein shakes are effective post-workout for muscle repair or between meals as a snack. Casein protein is well-suited for a bedtime snack due to its slow digestion. Creatine timing can be flexible, but it should not be mixed with sugary drinks.