Dietary questions

[AlisonM]

This may seem silly from someone who's been diabetic for around 2 years, you'd think I'd know by now, but just how important is it to try and eat at regular times? Or indeed does matter at all if you try and eat around the same times every day? Is it very different for T1 and T2?

Does periodically changing the way you eat (i.e., moving your biggest meal from the evening to lunchtime) have an effect on your overall levels?

Do erratic eating habits make things worse, numbers-wise?

I've always had a rather strained relationship with food because of the allergies and also been a little hit and miss when it comes to regular meals. Back in the day I might forget to eat at all if I was busy, or end up having breakfast at midnight if it suddenly occurred to me I was hungry and hadn't eaten that day. I try and avoid that now of course, if only because I have to have something after I inject, but it's hard sometimes to get up any enthusiasm for food. And of course, there are days like to day when I'm so hungry I could eat a whole elephant.

I'd like to know what your experience is.

 

[Blythespirit]

That's not a silly question at all. I'm nearly 8 years into this and I can so see where you're coming from. I've always seen food as a necessity rather than a pleasure, probably because I've always struggled to keep my weight down and often feel guilty for eating at all! I have to force myself to eat breakfast and can easily forget to eat if I'm home alone and busy.

However I do try to eat regurlarly these days. My GP, Practice Nurse and DSN all press the fact that I should eat three regular meals every day. I guess routine is the key to keeping things ticking over and keeping my levels...well...level. XXXXXX

 

[bigpurpleduck]

Hi Alison,

I know your situation is quite a bit more complicated than mine, but all I can do is share how I deal with food.

In theory on the pump I should be able to eat what I want when I want. In practice, good control is much easier with regular eating habits.

I tend to have the same thing for breakfast every day, and I find my morning readings as a result are fairly predictable. Lunch is always similar, though not exactly the same - I usually have crackers, a wrap or pitta bread with some kind of salad and fruit for afters, but I try to keep the carb content much the same. Afternoon BG is normally quite predictable too. However, I find dinner a big problem. Because of work, my OH & I need to have our biggest meal in the evening. He is also the fussiest eater I have ever had the misfortune to meet. So dinner varies a lot more than breakfast or lunch, and I find evening BG problematic most of the time.

In terms of eating times, I try to keep these the same too. I find if I keep carb content & timing of meals as similar as possible it's much easier to spot patterns with my bolus dose or certain types of food.

I also try to keep snacking between meals to a minimum to avoid BG being elevated for too long. Say I eat breakfast at 8am. My BG will peak around 9-9.30, then take a couple of hours to return to a good fasting number. So if I snack around 10.30-11, my BG hasn't had a chance to completely come back down and so remains elevated for a lot longer.

Having said all that, I find eating regularly very easy because that was how I grew up. Being diagnosed so young my body is used to regular times and amounts, so I find my appetite matches what I find easiest for BG control.

So I guess in my experience the answer is yes, regular eating habits do help. But I know that's not always practical!

 

[Caroline]

I think the main thing is you have regular meals at regular times, although I do tend to be a bit flexible depending how hungry I am. Breakfast for me is normally around 7am, my morning break is usually round 9.30am but can be as late as 10.30 am if I'm not hungry. Lunch can be as early as 12 mid day or as late as 1.30pm if I'm not very hungry.

 

[AlisonM]

I thought that's what you'd all say.

I am trying, but I have great difficulty eating much first thing so breakfast is usually about 9am and I don't snack if I can possibly avoid it, other than a couple of berries or carrot sticks when I wake up. If I eat more than a mouthful or two at that point I will be sick, I have to wait at least an hour after getting up before I have breakfast. Lunch is normally between 12:30 and 1:30 depending on how hungry I am and my evening meal is never later than 8pm, more usually around 7pm.

Breakfast is either oatmeal or yoghurt and a handful of berries. Lunch now is either a cup-a-soup or a small salad and dinner will be whatever I fancy, or something quick if I'm struggling to eat at all. Sometime the only reason I eat is because I have to have something to go with the jabs. I do try and keep things fairly regular, but it's not easy for me.

 

[Caroline]

Breakfast is the hardest meal of all for me. I hate to eat before I travel incase I get held up and my tummy starts doing silly things and I need the loo fast so I'm up at 4.30-5am and breakfast is around 7.15. and is whatever I bring with me that's quick.