The kids have to be at three different sporting events in the evening so we miss dinner. Sometimes these things happen. But when you have diabetes, it is extra important to remember that skipping meals can be dangerous. Here are a few reasons why skipping meals can hinder your work towards better controlling your diabetes. Riding the ups and downs of blood sugars is hard.
But skipping meals can make it even more unpredictable. Try eating carbohydrates within each of your three meals at approximately the same time each day. This gives you a steady intake of glucose and keeps your medications or insulin working the way they should. Irritability, tiredness and headaches are symptoms that no one wants to deal with.
Your physician likely prescribed your unique medication or insulin regimen based on your individual needs and meal schedule. Following this as closely as possible is the best way to work towards improving blood glucose levels.
Once we skip a meal, we set ourselves up to overeat at the next meal. By that time we are so hungry that it can be hard to stay in control of portions and even healthy meal choices.
Meal planning can be very helpful to avoid these things. If you have a pre-cooked or prepared meal ready to go, you will be less likely to dive into a pre-dinner snack.
Often in this case, we choose something high in carbohydrates such as potato chips. If overeating is done often enough, it can lead to unwanted weight gain. Stress and illness also increase your blood sugar levels. Did you skip your usual walk or did your forget to take your medications?
Both exercise and prescribed medications decrease your blood sugar levels. Keeping a journal of what you eat, how you feel, how much you exercise and the medications and supplements you take can help you figure out the cause of your high blood sugar. Skipping meals can actually increase your blood glucose levels. If your body doesn't get a regular supply of energy from food, your liver may panic and start releasing glucose into your bloodstream. This glucose can come from stored liver glycogen or can be newly synthesized from protein.
Skipping a meal can cause you to have high blood glucose levels, so don't skip a meal in an attempt to lower high blood sugar. Instead of skipping a meal, eat a balanced meal containing protein. Protein can stimulate your pancreas to produce insulin, the hormone needed to lower your blood glucose levels.
Because one of insulin's jobs is to store fat, it's telling your body to pack on the pounds from any excess calories, not get rid of them. Last but not least, skipping meals can lead to overeating later, especially at your evening meals. Tip: If you find it's healthiest to bring food with you to work or daily activities, plan what you'll need and pack it the night before.
Insulin and some blood glucose-lowering pills "don't halt their action if you decide to skip a meal," says Kathleen Stanley, dietitian and author of 50 Things You Need to Know About Diabetes American Diabetes Association, Instead, the medications that stimulate insulin production can continue to lower blood glucose even if levels are not elevated. The common pills that can cause this include: glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide, nateglinide Starlix , and repaglinide Prandin.
These medications may increase the risk of low blood sugar hypoglycemia. Having frequent low blood glucose reactions can make weight control more challenging due to the need to eat or drink carb-containing foods or treatments to quickly bring blood sugar levels back into a healthy range. Because having a low blood sugar may make you feel panicky, it's easy to overeat.
You may easily consume more calories than you need to treat the low. Ask your provider whether the glucose-lowering medication you take can cause hypoglycemia and what you can do to prevent it. If you're experiencing low blood glucose reactions frequently, talk to your health care provider about making medication changes or adjustments. Regular meals can provide structure and a framework for organizing your day and scheduling time for exercise, fun, and relaxation, says dietitian and diabetes educator Kathleen Stanley.
Both exercise and leisure time help you manage stress, which helps you control diabetes. Structured meals tend to be more nutritious, too, adds Kathaleen Briggs Early, Ph. If you're skipping meals or grabbing food on the go, you may choose less-healthy foods that lack vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients. Consider that most of us need at least 5 cups of fruits and vegetables daily.
That's pretty hard to accomplish if you skip meals or eat on the run. Tip: Plan to eat three meals daily, each with at least three food groups, such as protein, starch, and veggies. Jill Weisenberger, R. Pin FB More.
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