Type 2 diabetes: When should you eat in the day to keep blood sugar levels controlled?
Most of us have come to dread the word Diabetes, especially Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes 2 is mostly a lifestyle disease. Although not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight, obesity and an inactive lifestyle are two of the most common causes of type 2 diabetes.
Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into the cells in your body for use as energy. When a person develops Type 2 diabetes, cells don’t respond normally to insulin; this is called insulin resistance. The patient's pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. Eventually your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
What harm can high blood sugar do? Well, it can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases ( NIDDK), one can manage diabetes by making lifestyle changes that include planning healthy meals, limiting calories if you are overweight, and being physically active are also part of managing your diabetes.
Among the many steps that doctors advise to keep your blood sugar in check, one is that the timing of your meals also plays a role in blood sugar control.
What time should one eat if one has diabetes?
Some people with diabetes need to eat at about the same time each day. Others can be more flexible with the timing of their meals. Some doctors also advise that your portion sizes and servings should stay almost the same in terms of calories, as far as possible.
If you take “mealtime” insulin, your eating schedule can be more flexible.
If you use certain diabetes medicines or insulin NEVER skip a meal as then your blood glucose level can drop too low - which can develop into a life-threatening condition.
According to GP Doctor Sarah Brewer, the timing of your meals plays a role in blood sugar control. You should aim to eat around the same time each day, so try to stick to your usual meal times when eating out," advised Doctor Brewer.
"Eating little and often during the day may be better than having three large meals but always follow your doctor's advice based on the medication you are taking."
According to the Mayo Clinic, a diabetic person's diet must include healthy carbohydrates, fibre-rich foods, fish and "good" fats.
Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease and stroke by accelerating the development of clogged and hardened arteries. That is why a diabetic person should avoid eating foods that contain saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and high sodium. Ask your doctor for dietary recommendations, limits, and food sources.