[dmoney24]

im new to the site. im 16 and type 1 diabetic. but why is it so bad to skip meals? i usually skip breakfast because i dont feel like getting up early. i take novomix.

[jenb]

I skip meals from time to time, and also have very irregular meal times. Doesn't seem to make a difference in my control. Do you have lows if you miss meals? Highs? It seems to me that the ultimate goal of insulin therapy is to maintain good BG control...if you're doing that while missing breakfast good for you!

Jen

[shiftzor]

Insulin converts glucose in the blood stream to something the body can use which is then distributed to your liver, muscles and other parts of your body. Your liver stores vast amount of glucose which in small quantities is periodically released into the blood stream which is why you need a basal insulin to counter this release. If you experience a low bg (high insulin level) your liver kicks in to release glycogen into the blood stream in an attempt to normalise the bg level. Unfortunately it only has a finite supply which is why low bgs are more likely to follow low bgs. Eating frequently helps to keep a constant supply of glucose to top up your liver which helps to make your bg level more even throughout the day. In short skipping breakfast is not a good move. Sorry if this is too complicated, don't be afraid to ask questions.

[dmoney24]

i am keeping my levels normal , but i was reading about diabetes online and i read that you have to eat 3 meals a day. my doctor tells me to eat every 6 hours 3 times a day and a snack between those 6 hours, but sometimes i just cant eat 3 meals a day. i always eat 2 meals a day.

[Type 1.5 IMO]

Huh.. I barely ever eat.. maybe I should start eating more..

[DeusXM]

It's because you're on an insulin regime that is dependent on you having fixed mealtimes. Novomix is a mixture of fast acting and slow-acting insulin that should be taken at the same time every day. You therefore need to eat some carbs in order to prevent the fast acting part of the insulin causing you to go hypo.

This is why your doctor is setting out very specific meal times and snacks - this was how diabetes was treated until about 15 years ago. You could move onto an insulin pump or multiple daily injections (MDI) - these systems will allow you to eat whatever you like, whenever you like, while maintaining good BG control. However MDI will require you to have more injections per day (typically more than 4) and will also require you to test more frequently.

Most people agree the extra freedom and increased control is worth it.

[MJM]

In my humble opinion breakfast is the most important meal of the day. For the body to work to it's optimum it needs energy in the morning, (having generally gone for a long time without food), to supply the body with the necessary energy to enable it to do whatever it has to do that day. I have also read that having breakfast could mean less weight problems. I never miss breakfast and I never put on weight. My breakfast comprises 70g - 80g of carbs. Of course I exercise also.

[Gibby]

I always have breakfast, Im on 10 of novorapid with each meal. I have cornflakes with banana mixed through and sometimes I will go to around 3-4 and mild hypo, should I eat more or reduce my insulin? or have a snack? I feel hungry only if im active in the morning.

[Subby]

As Deus points out, using a mix definitely makes things tricky with meals. And maybe tricky for control in a few ways. Talk to your doc about moving to a proper basal/bolus regimen. It's been tried and tested for many years now, and has clear advantages for general adjustment and food flexibility.

It's only by doing this you could really test these theories about how important X meal is or to eat every X hours, and make up your own mind for your own body. Right now you're kind of hamstrung.

[shiftzor]

Originally Posted by Gibby

I always have breakfast, Im on 10 of novorapid with each meal. I have cornflakes with banana mixed through and sometimes I will go to around 3-4 and mild hypo, should I eat more or reduce my insulin? or have a snack? I feel hungry only if im active in the morning.

Fixed doses for each meal? You should find your I:C (insulin to carb ratio) it allows for flexible meals in which you can eat any number of carbs within reason.

Originally Posted by Subby

As Deus points out, using a mix definitely makes things tricky with meals. And maybe tricky for control in a few ways. Talk to your doc about moving to a proper basal/bolus regimen. It's been tried and tested for many years now, and has clear advantages for general adjustment and food flexibility.

Totaly agree, I read the post quickly didn't notice that dmoney24 was using a mix .

[Injecto]

Originally Posted by DeusXM

It's because you're on an insulin regime that is dependent on you having fixed mealtimes. Novomix is a mixture of fast acting and slow-acting insulin that should be taken at the same time every day. You therefore need to eat some carbs in order to prevent the fast acting part of the insulin causing you to go hypo.

It's amazing how stupid doctors, and the medical community as a whole, are when it comes to Diabetes (My endo is a T1 himself, on a pump, and is still a moron because he believes that if it's not his way, with his ratios, then it's wrong, idiot). Funny thing is, as sucky as it is to be a diabetic, it's not that complicated to figure out (the logic that is), ratios are harder.

You eat carbs, then you need insulin. You don't eat carbs, then you only need basal. That's IT.

So, once your basals are set right, which can take you anywhere from 2 days to 3 weeks to figure out. After that, you can skip all the meals you want...breakfast, second breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner AND supper.

[Delphinus]

Dmoney,

I am a "rookie" diabetic myself, and even I know mixes can be bad news.

If you get on a basal plan, as mentioned, it is fairly safe to skip meals(In the sense all people do it.).

I tend to skip meals, or eat at unusual times on the weekends myself.

If yer not using a mix as part of your plan, you don't really need to eat. Well, okay, everyone needs to eat, but there is little risk of going hypo when you do deprive yourself of the odd meal.

Once you start using rapids, and a slower acting insulin, as separate injections, it becomes much simpler. You eat, you bolus, if you don't eat, you don't bolus.

This cuts the risk in a huge way.