I Have Diabetes: When Should I Eat?Back to the Nutrition Publications Online Instructions To personalize the information below, print out this document and complete the "Your Turn" portions. If you do not have a printer, or would rather use a hard-copy booklet, please contact the NDIC Information Clearinghouse at ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov. Request a copy of the Nutrition Series. Even if you don't use the forms, the following information will help you develop a healthy diet. Contents Why Should I Keep My Blood Sugar at a Healthy Level? How Can I Keep My Blood Sugar at a Healthy Level? Why Should I Eat About the Same Amount Each Day? Why Should I Eat at About the Same Times Each Day? What Times Should I Eat My Meals and Snacks? What Times Should I Take My Diabetes Medicines? Points To Remember The Nutrition Series Acknowledgments National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse Why Should I Keep My Blood Sugar at a Healthy Level? You should keep your blood sugar (also called blood glucose) at a healthy level to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. Ask your doctor or diabetes teacher what a healthy blood sugar level is for you. Your blood sugar can go too high if you eat too much. If your blood sugar goes too high, you can get sick. Your blood sugar can also go too high if you do not take the right amount of diabetes medicine. If your blood sugar stays high too much, you can get diabetes problems. These can be heart, eye, foot, kidney, and other problems. You can also get sick if your blood sugar gets too low. How Can I Keep My Blood Sugar at a Healthy Level? Eat about the same amounts of food each day. Eat your meals and snacks at about the same times each day. Do not skip meals or snacks. Take your medicines at the same times each day. Exercise at about the same times each day. Why Should I Eat About the Same Amount Each Day? The food you eat turns into sugar and travels to your blood. This is called blood sugar. Your blood sugar goes up after you eat. Keep your blood sugar at a healthy level by eating about the same amounts of food at about the same times each day. Your blood sugar will not stay at a healthy level if you eat a big lunch one day and a small lunch the next day. Eat about the same amounts of food each day to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. Why Should I Eat at About the Same Times Each Day? Eating at about the same times each day helps you keep your blood sugar from getting too high or too low. Eating at about the same times each day also helps your diabetes medicine keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. Eat at about the same times each day. What Times Should I Eat My Meals and Snacks? Talk with your doctor or diabetes teacher about how many meals and snacks you need to eat each day. Fill in the times you should eat your meals and snacks on these clocks. Meal Snack Meal Snack Meal Snack What Times Should I Take My Diabetes Medicines? Talk with your doctor or diabetes teacher about the best times to take your diabetes medicines. Fill in the names of your diabetes medicines, when you should take them, and how much you should take. Here are some hints: Diabetes pills: Take these before you eat. Regular, NPH, or Lente insulin: Take this 30 minutes before you eat. Humalog insulin lispro: Take this just before you eat. Name of medicine: ______________ Time: _______ Meal:____________ How much: ___________________ Name of medicine: ______________ Time: _______ Meal:____________ How much: ___________________ Name of medicine: ______________ Time: _______ Meal:____________ How much: ___________________ Points To Remember The food you eat makes your blood sugar go up. Diabetes medicines make your blood sugar go down. Together they help you keep your blood sugar at the healthy level. That's why you should Eat about the same amounts of food each day. Eat your meals and snacks at about the same times each day. Try not to skip meals and snacks. Take your diabetes medicines at about the same times each day. Exercise at about the same times each day. Keeping your blood sugar at a healthy level every day helps you prevent diabetes problems for a long time. The Nutrition Series Two other booklets can help you learn more about food and diabetes: I Have Diabetes: How Much Should I Eat? I Have Diabetes: When Should I Eat? For free copies of these booklets: Call the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) at (301) 654-3327. Write to NDIC, 1 Information Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3560. E-mail NDIC at ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov. Acknowledgments The individuals listed here provided editorial guidance or facilitated field testing for this publication. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse would like to thank these individuals for their contributions. American Association of Diabetes Educators Chicago, IL Shelly Amos, L.R.D. Nez Percé Nutrition Lapwai, ID Noreen Cohen, M.S., R.D., L.D. Humana Health Care Plans San Antonio, TX Paula Dubcak, R.N., C.D.E. Humana Health Care Plans San Antonio, TX Lois Exelbert, R.N., M.S., C.D.E., A.C.C.E. Joslin Center for Diabetes Baptist Hospital of Miami Miami, FL Ruth Farkas-Hirsch, R.N., M.S., C.D.E. (on behalf of American Diabetes Association) University of Washington, Diabetes Care Center Seattle, WA Lawana Geren, R.N., C.D.E. Humana Health Care Plans San Antonio, TX Gwen Hosey, M.S., A.N.P., C.D.E. IHS Portland Area Diabetes Program at Washington Bellingham, WA Joslin Center for Diabetes Community Medical Center Toms River, NJ Melinda Maryniuk, M.Ed., R.D., C.D.E. Joslin Diabetes Center Boston, MAPat Mathis, M.S., R.N., C.D.E. Marianne Sack, R.N., C.D.E. So Others Might Eat Washington, DC Kathy O'Keeffe, M.S., R.D., L.D., C.D.E. Carolina Diabetes and Kidney Center Sumter, SC Carolyn Ross, R.D., M.S., C.D.E. PHS Indian Hospital Cass Lake, MN Lisa Spence, M.S. Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Judy Tomassene, M.P.H., M.S., R.D. Seattle Indian Health Board Seattle, WA Madelyn L. Wheeler, M.S., R.D., F.A.D.A., C.D.E. Indiana University School of Medicine Diabetes Research and Training Center Indianapolis, IN National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 1 Information Way Bethesda, MD 20892-3560 E-mail: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Public Health Service. Established in 1978, the clearinghouse provides information about diabetes to people with diabetes and their families, health care professionals, and the public. NDIC answers inquiries; develops, reviews, and distributes publications; and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about diabetes. Publications produced by the clearinghouse are reviewed carefully for scientific accuracy, content, and readability. This e-text is not copyrighted. The clearinghouse encourages users of this e-pub to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired. NIH Publication No. 98-4242 November 1997 e-text posted: 6 April 1998 Back to the Nutrition Publications Online