Snacking and Diabetes it's not all its cracked up to be

Recently I have seen some articles about the role of snacking in diabetes control and it is causing me to rethink that piece of advice. In years past the suggestion was made to eat 6 small meals a day to help control blood sugars.This made sense based on the action of many of the oral and  insulin products that were on the market at the time.

Many of the newer medications that are used function in a different manner. They may not have the peak action that formerly needed to be paired with food. My experience with 6 meals a day is that individuals often find it more difficult to work in times to eat during the day.

In addition, more frequent eating may mean more calories, resulting in more weight gain. That could be counter productive.

The one time it actually does make more sense is in pregnancy, if you are diabetic. During pregnancy there are increased demands on the body and challenges to the way the body handles insulin and glucose.
Meeting with a dietitian to discuss your diet plan is an important part of taking care of yourself. If you are a diabetic, make sure meeting with a dietitian is part of your check list  of self care behaviors. Dietitians are here to help you interpret food into proper nutrition to help your body.  Enjoy the summer sunshine while you can.