Breakfast a must for diabetics

According to a new online survey, people with diabetes may experience "breakfast envy," feeling left out when they see friends and family eating traditional breakfast foods like sweetened cereals and pastries. These are foods they'd like to eat but know they are not ideal choices for people with diabetes.

The recent national online survey of 505 people with Type 2 diabetes found that 83 percent reported feelings of breakfast envy, and 80 percent want more variety of diabetes-friendly breakfast options. Surprisingly, 49 percent admitted to eating something for breakfast they knew would spike their blood sugar because they wanted their favorite breakfast food.

Missing breakfast altogether is not the solution. Other research shows that people who skip breakfast have a 4.5 times greater risk for obesity. According to the Glucerna Breakfast Survey, missing breakfast can also have consequences beyond being hungry:

•58 percent of people reported having less energy

•42 percent eat more during the rest of the day

•38 percent experience drops in their blood sugar level when medication is taken on an empty stomach, and 34 percent become cranky

"With the early morning havoc of getting ready for work or school, preparing and eating breakfast can sometimes be a challenge, but skipping breakfast can have negative effects on blood sugar and energy levels," said Robyn Webb, nutritionist, chef and author of more than 10 diabetes-related cookbooks

Weight management through diet and exercise is key to controlling diabetes long term.

For more information, visit www.diabetescontrolforlife.com.