Bedtime Snacks & the Prevention of Nocturnal Hyperglycemia in Diabetics

Bedtime Snacks & the Prevention of Nocturnal Hyperglycemia in Diabetics
August 23, 2007 by
Christine Cadena
Associated Content

What to Eat at Bedtime

Each year, millions of Americans struggle with the modification to diet and exercise resulting from a diagnosis of diabetes. For many, the impact of diabetes may result in only minor changes to diet but, for others, the changes can be overwhelming.

With restrictions on the intake of carbohydrates, many diabetics struggle with food choices at each and every meal. Even greater of a challenge is the restriction upon the ability to consume late night, or bedtime, snacks.

For all diabetics, especially those on an insulin management program, there is a change in blood glucose levels, often resulting in hyperglycemia, which occurs during the late night hours. Known as nocturnal hyperglycemia, diabetics often experience a spike in blood sugar levels during the hours of midnight and 8 A.M, leaving many to feel the effects by morning.

Nocturnal hyperglycemia is believed to be attributed to the physiology of the diabetic's metabolic rate during the late night hours which, often, can not be controlled or mimicked by insulin therapy injections. As a result, the diabetic patient must find ways in which to offset this sudden spike in blood glucose levels while sleeping.

If you are diabetic, and using insulin management therapy, there is no doubt you have experienced the effects of nocturnal hyperglycemia. Many health care professionals, in response to nocturnal hyperglycemia, will recommend that you consume a bedtime snack so as to promote regulation of blood glucose levels while you are sleeping.

So, what should a diabetic eat immediately prior to going to bed? As a general rule, most diabetic patients will benefit from a bedtime snack that includes two servings of starch and one serving of protein. For many diabetics, this simple snack can be prepared using two slices of bread with one slice of cheese. However, the choice of bedtime snack will depend upon the blood glucose level at bedtime. When blood glucose levels are found to be higher than normal, it may be necessary to replace one of the starch servings with an extra protein or, in this case, try one slice of bread and two slices of cheese.

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