|  | Diet Nutrition | Diabetic Diets

Foods to Lower the Rise of Blood Sugar at Night

Blood sugar often rises during the night, especially for diabetic patients who are careful with foods they are eating. The body produces hormones during the morning as a gradual wake-up from sleep, which results in higher blood sugar during the night and early morning. When planning a meal and snack the night before, choosing appropriate foods for keeping blood sugar levels down can prevent high blood sugar problems later during the night and early morning.

  1. Whole Grains

    • While carbohydrates are known for raising blood sugar, foods that are high in fiber can keep blood sugar levels more consistent. Whole grain foods, vegetables and similar high fiber foods that have low calories can minimize the rise in blood sugar. Eat a whole grain snack or a vegetable about an hour or two before bed as a snack to give the body an extra little snack before bed.

    Meats

    • Protein can limit and reduce hunger while preventing a huge rise in blood sugar. Eating fish or chicken for dinner rather than eating pasta can make a difference in the blood sugar levels during the night. Protein does not have the sudden large spikes in blood sugar that carbohydrates or sugary foods do and it keeps the body full longer because it takes longer to break down when compared to sugars. This lowers the nighttime highs and helps the body regulate blood sugar better at night.

    Nuts

    • Like meats, nuts are slow-burning foods that take the body longer to process than simple sugars and carbohydrates. Allergies are a common problem relating to nuts, but if allergies are not a problem, these foods are full of healthy benefits and help lower high blood sugar. Even a small amount of nuts before bed as a snack will help.

    Fruits and Vegetables

    • Fruits and vegetables, like whole grains, are high in fiber and help lower blood sugar as a result. Diabetics need to take care with fruits, due to sudden spikes shortly after eating, and should eat small amounts of fruit at a time. Over time, the added fruit and vegetable content to meals, especially at night, will lower the overnight high blood sugar levels.

Diabetic Diets - Related Articles