I’m Type 2, non-insulin diabetic. I do take oral meds. Recently I’ve been losing weight and eating healthy. Occasionally at bedtime my blood sugar drops, for example last night was 57. Are there specific foods I should eat to help control it better when it drops low? Overall my blood sugars are lower & I’ll see my doctor in a few weeks.
Q: I'm Type 2, non-insulin diabetic. I do take oral meds. Recently I've been losing weight and eating healthy. Occasionally at bedtime my blood sugar drops, for example last night was 57. Are there specific foods I should eat to help control it better when it drops low? Overall my blood sugars are lower & I'll see my doctor in a few weeks.
Certain types of oral medications can cause low blood sugar. This includes sulfonylureas like glipizide, glyburide, and glimepiride. This type of medication needs to be taken prior to eating dinner rather than after dinner or at bedtime. If you are taking the medication as prescribed but are having low blood sugar overnight, it may be that your dosage needs to be reduced or the medication discontinued because you're now eating a healthy diet and have lost weight.
Consuming meals that contain a balance of protein, fat and a small portion of high-fiber carbs can help keep your blood sugar stable. A protein snack prior to bedtime (an egg or handful of nuts) can also help stabilize blood sugar overnight. However, if your blood sugar drops lower than 70, you should treat with 10-15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate (3 glucose tablets, 4 ounces of juice, or 4 ounces of regular soda) and retest 10-15 minutes later to ensure that your blood sugar is 100 or higher. Then eat a small balanced snack or meal, depending on the time.
Answered By dLife Expert: Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE
Certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian living in Southern California.
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