Best Diabetic-Friendly High-Protein Foods, Ranked
For blood-sugar stability, the protein is the easy part — the question is what comes with it. Our diabetic-friendly fit score weighs added sugar most heavily, then total sugar and net carbs, and rewards fiber for its role in blunting the glycemic response. The result is a list of high-protein foods that are gentle on blood glucose.
The ranked list
1. Vega — One All-in-One Nutritional Shake, Vanilla Chai
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · A Labelgrade 94/100 · 20 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
2. Ascent — Native Fuel Whey Protein, Cappuccino
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · A- Labelgrade 89/100 · 25 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
3. Lightlife — Lightlife, Organic Three Grains Tempeh
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · A- Labelgrade 89/100 · 16 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
4. Orgain — Plant Based Protein Powder, Vanilla
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · A- Labelgrade 87/100 · 20 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
5. Ratio — :Fiber And Protein Vanilla Dairy Snack
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · A- Labelgrade 86/100 · 20 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
6. Catalina Crunch — Chocolate Banana Cereal
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · A- Labelgrade 85/100 · 11 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
7. House Foods — Organic Tofu
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · A- Labelgrade 85/100 · 14 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
8. Wonderful — Pistachios (No Salt / In-Shell)
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · A- Labelgrade 85/100 · 6 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
9. Dannon — Oikos Triple Zero Blended Nonfat Greek Yogurt, Cherry
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 84/100 · 15 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
10. Dannon — Oikos Nonfat Greek Yogurt, Plain
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 83/100 · 15 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
11. Garden of Life — Organic Plant Protein
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 83/100 · 15 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
12. Nasoya — Organic Tofu Cubed Super Firm
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 83/100 · 9 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
13. Quest — Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 83/100 · 21 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
14. Wallaby — Plain Organic Aussie Greek Lowfat Yogurt, Plain
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 83/100 · 14 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
15. Wild Planet — No Salt Added Wild Sardines in Water
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 83/100 · 18 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
16. Bumble Bee — Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 82/100 · 13 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
17. Fage — Total 0% Nonfat Greek Strained Yogurt
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 82/100 · 18 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
18. Friendship Dairies — 1% Milkfat Small Curd No Salt Added Cottage Cheese
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 82/100 · 15 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
19. Oikos — Pro Vanilla Greek Yogurt
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 82/100 · 20 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
20. OWYN — Pro Elite Chocolate Shake
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 82/100 · 32 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
21. Safe Catch — Elite Wild Tuna
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 82/100 · 24 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
22. Stonyfield — Organic Greek Nonfat Yogurt Plain - 32 oz
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 82/100 · 16 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
23. Chobani — Plain Non- Fat Greek Yogurt
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 81/100 · 16 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
24. Dannon — Oikos Triple Zero Greek Vanilla - 5.3oz / 4pk
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 81/100 · 15 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
25. Iconic — Vanilla Bean Protein Drink
Diabetic-friendly-fit 100/100 A+ · B+ Labelgrade 81/100 · 20 g protein
low added sugar and net carbs
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How we scored Diabetic-friendly fit
Scored on added sugar (the heaviest penalty), then total sugars and net carbs, with a fiber bonus. Foods with little or no added sugar and a low net-carb load score highest. Educational, not medical advice.
Every score is computed from the same USDA nutrition and ingredient data we use for the public Labelgrade, applied to the documented rules in our diet-fit engine — no proprietary "score brewing." All nutrition verified against USDA FoodData Central. See how Labelgrade grades food. Last refreshed 2026-06-03.
See Diabetic-friendly fit on every product — plus 6 more diets
This page ranks the top picks. Labelgrade Premium shows the Diabetic-friendly-fit score on every product fact sheet the moment you open it — alongside Keto, Mediterranean, Paleo, Whole30, DASH, high-protein, and diabetic-friendly. Same transparent methodology, on the whole catalog.
See Premium — $5/mo →Frequently Asked Questions
Is this medical advice for diabetes?
No. This is an educational ranking of how well a food fits a low-added-sugar, low-glycemic-load pattern — it is not personalized medical or dietary advice, and it does not account for your medication, total daily carbs, or individual glucose response. Always work with your physician or a registered dietitian for diabetes management. Use this list to find lower-sugar options to discuss, not as a treatment plan.
Why weight added sugar more than total sugar?
Naturally occurring sugars that come packaged with fiber, fat, and protein (the lactose in plain yogurt, for example) generally raise blood glucose more slowly than added free sugars. So our score penalizes added sugar most, counts total sugar as a secondary factor, and gives credit for fiber, which slows glucose absorption. Net carbs (carbs minus fiber) are factored in as well.
What are good high-protein, low-sugar foods?
Plain Greek yogurt and cottage cheese (no added sugar), eggs, jerky without sugar glazes, cheese, canned fish, and unsweetened protein shakes are reliable low-glycemic, high-protein picks. The ranked list above includes only products for which we have verified sugar data.