Don’t Skip Meals, Especially If You Have Diabetes

Coping with diabetes can be difficult, especially when it comes to your eating habits. Before being diagnosed with diabetes, you probably didn’t have to worry much about your blood sugar. You knew it was there, but it didn’t really affect you. When you have diabetes that changes because what you eat or not eat affects your blood glucose, which is why it’s important not to skip meals.

The most important meal of the day is breakfast; this is when you need the most energy to get you through the day. For diabetics, it is especially important that you don’t skip breakfast or fast until midday because this may cause your blood sugar to spike throughout the day, which doesn’t feel great.

Signs of High Blood Sugar

• Very thirsty
• Tired
• Blurry vision
• Have to use the bathroom often
• Sick to your stomach
• Dizzy
• Nauseous

A recent study with type 2 diabetes patients found that those patients that missed breakfast had a higher than usual surge in blood sugar after lunch and dinner. Skipping breakfast gave their bodies a more difficult time when it came to processing glucose, which reduced their ability to convert blood sugar into energy.

When your body doesn’t get a regular supply of energy from food, you liver panics and starts releasing glucose into your bloodstream.  Some people think that by fasting or skipping a meal they can lower their high blood sugar, but instead you’re making your body go into panic mode.

High blood glucose levels can give you more serious health problems. This can damage the small arteries and nerves in your eyes, kidneys, heart, brain, and feet over time. Previous studies have also linked skipping breakfast to an increased risk for gaining weight and diabetes.

Instead of skipping meals, eat a balanced meal that contains protein. Protein stimulates your pancreas to produce insulin, which is the hormone that lowers your blood glucose levels. One thing you should avoid is foods high in carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice, pastries, etc. Instead, replace those carbs with vegetables and a serving of protein.

In addition to watching what you eat, it’s important to incorporate exercise into your routine, whether it’s walking, running, cycling, or even housework, make sure your muscles use up that extra glucose circulating in your blood. Exercise also makes your cells more sensitive to insulin, which helps regulate your sugar levels. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and to check your blood sugar often to see the effects of different types of foods and exercise.

NEXT: Could You Prevent Heart Disease and Diabetes By Eating Less Sugar?