Obese people with diabetes are able to lose weight on high-protein diets and see improvement in both cardiovascular and renal health, without facing increased risks, according to new research reported by Medical Xpress, Newsmax Health reports.

The study, conducted by University of Adelaide PhD student Eva Pedersen, compared the effects of a high-protein and standard diet in a year-long study involving 45 obese people with Type 2 diabetes.

Within the first six months of the study, both diets helped the participants to lose weight, with almost 9 percent of body weight lost by those on the high-protein diet and more than 6 percent by those on the standard diet.

"The participants' weight loss resulted in improvements to their renal health, as well as to their overall cardiovascular health and the control of their blood-sugar levels," said Peter Clifton, affiliate professor at the University of Adelaide's School of Medicine and Eva Pedersen's supervisor.