Missing meals.

[Nicksellick]

Hi,
Is there any consensus of opinion on whether skipping a meal is a good or bad thing as a type 2?
I have been having my “breakfast” at around 1.30 thinking it was a good thing as the less often you eat, the less often you are going to get a spike.
I have just read, however, that missing a meal can effect your levels later in the day.
Any thoughts?
Cheers
Nick

 

[Resurgam]

I think it can in the early days of eating low carb, but these days I just go with how I feel and I often do not eat breakfast at all, I wait until the evening to eat. I need to be sure to drink a couple of pints of water though. I am on the south coast and it is hot!!!

 

[Robbity]

Skipping meals AKA "Intermittent fasting". And as a T2, as long as you're eating enough fat and protein and are not hungry it's perfectly acceptable. If you eat mainly carbs rather than fats though, then you may not always have enough fuel to keep you going when skipping meals and then your liver may well give you a helping hand with a bit of spikey glucose.

I've always eaten normal fats as my main fuel source nearly all my life , and since my teens over 60 years ago and well before I ever even heard of T2, I've tended to skip breakfast. Since T2 I've skipped other meals as well or instead if I'm not hungry, and it does me no harm.

(And as I'm a fatty fuel consumer I get smallish bumps in my levels rather rather than spikes.)

 

[KennyA]

Hi,
Is there any consensus of opinion on whether skipping a meal is a good or bad thing as a type 2?
I have been having my “breakfast” at around 1.30 thinking it was a good thing as the less often you eat, the less often you are going to get a spike.
I have just read, however, that missing a meal can effect your levels later in the day.
Any thoughts?
Cheers
Nick

I eat when I'm hungry. I don't count that as "missing meals". Usually that means a substantial meal around 7-8pm, and often a bit of salami/cheese/olives around 1.30pm. This often doesn't happen as I don't want anything. I have a pot of coffee in the morning and plenty of fluid the rest of the day, no carb.

If I eat anything more substantial mid-day I won't want to eat in the evening. When I have a fry-up breakfast (not often, because I'm not often ready to eat in the morning) I won't want to eat again all day. There is absolutely no effort involved in not eating, as there's a complete absence of any desire to eat anything.

Carbs in a meal will affect my BG, other food items won't. Naturally I expect my BG to go up after I eat carbs - I'm more concerned about the duration and height of the rise. I don't expect any spikes (in my playbook a rise is not a spike) because I don't eat anything (eg pastry) that I know causes them.

The issue with fasting causing a rise in BG is probably because your liver is used to operating at higher BG levels and does its best to top your glucose up through gluconeogenesis, where it constructs glucose and releases it into the bloodstream (this is the process that metformin interferes with).

It's a natural and beneficial process - the issue is the BG level the liver thinks you should be at. It will try to get you there. Livers seem to be slow learners - mine took about a year to accept that I was OK with lower levels, but it got there.

 

[mansingh01]

Hi,
Is there any consensus of opinion on whether skipping a meal is a good or bad thing as a type 2?
I have been having my “breakfast” at around 1.30 thinking it was a good thing as the less often you eat, the less often you are going to get a spike.
I have just read, however, that missing a meal can effect your levels later in the day.
Any thoughts?
Cheers
Nick

Hi- skipping breakfast is ideal and have 2 meals a day lunch and dinner

 

[Mini Dachs Mum]

I only eat if hungry so sometimes once a day or maybe twice. Breakfast is rare for me.usually just a coffee

 

[MissMuffett]

I’m trying to get away from ’eating by the clock’ In the past I had the habit of having breakfast when I got up, lunch when the clock said 12:30 and dinner around 6. Now I only have a mug of coffee with double cream for breakfast and I eat when I’m hungry normally around 1pm but sometimes I push myself until 4:30-5 to have my first meal which is very low carb. My BG used to always be 13-14mmol/l but now it‘s in the 7s unless I’m naughty and have something I shouldn’t and I’m trying to get it much lower.

 

[Outlier]

I eat only when hungry. Works for me usually with brunch and dinner, but if necessary I will eat another time instead of/as well as.

 

[Deleted member 475901]

I got into remission while eating breakfast very late and then 'missing' lunch.

Now I have to eat breakfast for one of my new pills and find this much harder as I'm hungry at lunchtime so eat more.

 

[KennyA]

Hi Nick,
The topic of skipping meals and its impact on blood sugar levels can vary depending on individual circumstances and preferences. While there may not be a consensus of opinion, I can provide you with some general insights to consider.
Skipping a meal, such as breakfast, can have different effects on individuals with type 2 diabetes. Some people find that spacing out their meals and practicing intermittent fasting can help regulate their blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. On the other hand, for some individuals, skipping meals may lead to lower blood sugar levels, which can cause hypoglycemia and other complications.
Also, keeping a record of your blood sugar levels and meals can help you identify any patterns or trends that might be impacting your glucose control. Monitoring your levels after skipping a meal can give you a better understanding of how your body reacts and whether it aligns with your goals.
Remember, the key to managing type 2 diabetes is maintaining a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and consistent medication or insulin usage (if prescribed). It's important to find an eating pattern that works best for you and supports your overall health and blood sugar management.
I hope this helps to shed some light on your question.

Hi Emily.Wellness80 and welcome to the forums. I note you don't have diabetes yourself. I would not agree that a "balanced" diet (as it's usually understood) is the best option for me. Can you tell us where you're getting your insights from? Do you have references, if this isn't your personal experience?

 

[MissMuffett]

Skipping meals would only cause hypoglycaemia in a type 2 diabetics if they’re using insulin injections to control BG. Skipping meals can be beneficial for type 2s as it gives the pancreas and liver a rest from producing insulin.
It makes me smile when I read someone recommending a ‘balanced’ diet, as this suggest the macronutrients should have a ratio of 33.3%. I certainly wouldn’t eat 33% of carbs as that would send my BG sky high.