Diabetes is dedicated to November 14 and this year's message is "Diabetes: Healthy Eating Starts with Breakfast"
In an announcement, the Cyprus Association of Dietitians and Nutritionists states, among other things, that breakfast is the first meal we take after a long fast (up to 12 hours).
For people with diabetes it is necessary daily, regardless of the type of treatment. Breakfast is a very important meal - it can either make or break your day. Breakfast is a very important meal - it can either make or break your day, and your body will need to re-energize itself after the sleep period, during which time the body continues to use blood glucose as fuel for the body. sleep. Thus, it is the meal that aims to better regulate blood glucose levels and activate the body's burning, after the drop in metabolic rate during sleep.
Lack of breakfast in people with type 1 diabetes will lead to hypoglycemic crises and inability to control diabetes.
What about breakfast in Cyprus?
According to the Epidemiological survey of the Association of Dietitians and Nutritionists of Cyprus (2005-2009) on "the percentage of obesity and overweight in Cyprus and the determination of the eating habits of the Cypriot citizen" only 24,2% receive breakfast, 11,1 % receive tithes while 3,7% do not receive either.
In addition, according to the pilot survey on the eating habits of primary school children (2012) by the Cyprus Association of Dietitians and Nutritionists showed that 79% of children eat breakfast while 21% do not eat (research continues).
Elementary school children were found to have higher rates of obesity or overweight or waist circumference when they did not eat breakfast compared to children who received breakfast.
Children in Cyprus who eat breakfast regularly seem to follow the Mediterranean diet more regularly and have higher serum Fe concentrations and lower BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage (less than 14%) and fasting glucose, compared to children. skipping breakfast.
Why yes to breakfast in relation to Diabetes
Breakfast protects us from weight gain and helps to better regulate blood sugar and a balanced diet.
Regular breakfast intake even seems to protect against diabetes in clinical trials. Breakfast also improves mental function. For the person with diabetes if he does not eat breakfast, during the day he will feel hungry and weak. Skipping food for many hours leads to increased insulin resistance and even higher blood sugar after the next meal. In people with diabetes taking medication / insulin for sugar, skipping breakfast increases the risk of hypoglycaemia during the day followed by hyperglycaemia due to subsequent overeating. The regulation of sugar is much more effective when the carbohydrates are distributed in meals throughout the day. The activity of most people is more intense in the morning. The body needs energy to burn calories and gets this energy from food. Excessive food consumption at night where there is no energy expenditure can contribute and store the extra calories in the form of fat.
For people with diabetes, diet is of paramount importance in the proper management of high blood sugar. Daily breakfast is especially important. People with diabetes may find that eating fewer meals helps them regulate their blood sugar better. Still, they mistakenly believe that if their blood sugar is high in the morning, due to the normal secretion of stress hormones that cause morning hyperglycemia, they should not eat "anything" to lower serum glucose.
Avoiding breakfast, especially by a person who regulates his blood sugar only by diet, during the day will feel hungry and weak and it is very likely that he will end up eating something fast to satisfy his hunger.
What kind of breakfast should we eat?
Breakfast is a very important meal - it can either make or break your day.
The right breakfast can determine the regulation of sugar for the rest of the day. Not all foods are good for breakfast. The combination of low glycemic index carbohydrates with lots of fiber (whole grain products without sugar, apples, strawberries) along with low fat protein (dairy products) is the ideal combination. Eating protein in combination with complex carbohydrates in the morning reduces the production of hormones that control hunger and leads to less food intake. These foods break down slowly, do not cause a significant increase in sugar and insulin and protect against overeating the rest of the day. The opposite will happen if you eat a high-glycemic carbohydrate breakfast (cereals with sugar, cakes, pastries, white bread), which are quickly absorbed, cause hyperglycemia, reactive hypoglycemia after eating and may cause nausea and vomiting. the rest of the day.
Exemplary Breakfast
Muesli or whole grains such as wheat, oats, rye with, Fruit with, Milk, low-fat yogurt, or egg, or low-fat cheese (there are also traditional low-fat eg halloumi and anari).
Discuss with your dietitian which breakfast is the most appropriate with the right quality and quantity for you depending on your lifestyle and the treatment you follow for diabetes.