Eating in the evening while relaxing after dinner or watching TV seems to be a national pastime. Yet this type of eating can contribute to both increased body weight and elevated blood sugar levels. What do you do when the evening munchies hit? Do you have any favorite low calorie, low carb snacks that curb your hunger without wreaking havoc on your blood sugar levels or your waistline?

I try to avoid eating after 6:30 or 7:00 at night, but if I get a "munchie attack," I find that popcorn usually does the trick (a low-fat/low-salt version). Sometimes I sprinkle some parmasean cheese on it if I want something that tastes more substantial. That usually holds me over until breakfast.

That sounds good! I usually opt for a piece of fruit, especially something I can eat slowly like an apple cut into slices or an orange. But the popcorn would be good when I want something salty.

Being a night person, I often want something more to eat in the evening. I also can't have popcorn due to another health problem, so I try to go for a low fat/low carb/low sugar yogurt. I've also found that some places sell no sugar popsicles that really hit the spot on a warm summer night.

I like the no sugar popsicles too! Sometimes I go through a jello phase. Not much to chew on with either one of those options though... if chewing on something is what you are wanting. hehehe. I've found munchie time is a great time to get on the computer and do stuff like this! Keeps the hands busy and the mind occupied and time flies and before you know it, it's time for bed and you haven't eaten anything. LOL.

Do all of you take insulin? I say all of you because it seems that there is only the 4 or 5 or 6 of us that are posting. I take pills to control my diabetes. And for me, my first-in-the-morning fasting blood sugar level is the one I have the most trouble figuring out how to control. They say now that that first fasting level in the morning should be 100 or below. (Well... some say that.) I have a heck of a time trying to figure out how to manipulate all the factors to make that happen! My theory is that it is just too long between my last meal of the day and the time I get up in the morning and I think my body just starts converting glycogen. Of all the different combinations of things I've tried, eating dinner later or having a SMALL late night snack or getting up earlier all seem to have the best results. Sometimes I think blood sugar would be much easier to control if I took insulin. But don't get me wrong... I'm thankful I haven't reached that point.

My mom too has a problem figuring that first morning blood sugar level out. She DOES take insulin and she does everything she can think of to try to get it right and sometimes when she gets up it is good and sometimes she is just shocked to see that it is either way too low or way too high. Does anyone else have trouble with that morning fasting level? We feel like we spend half the day just playing catch-up when we start the day with an out of range level. What's the trick to going to bed with a good level and waking up with a good level?

I guess I probably irritate Lynn for drifting off the topic. LOL. Sorry Lynn. I just chose to focus on the "wrecking havoc on the blood sugar level" part of your question about evening munchies as apposed to the actual snack food. :-)

I just read in the articles section about the "Dawn Phenomenon". Yea... I guess that's pretty much what I had figured out was going on... just didn't know it had a name. The article wasn't terribly helpful in what exactly to do about it... other than some general guidelines... which were all the things I've "played" with to try to correct the problem.

Do any of you have a problem with the Dawn Phenomenon? What seems to work for you? I know... we are probably all different. I'm just curious as to how any of you deal with it... if at all.

Hey, sometimes going off-topic provides for some interesting conversations!

My husband has some issues with his morning numbers. Sometimes, it's because of what or when he ate the night before, but a lot of the time, he just can't figure out why. I was just reading that there is a hormone surge overnight that can be responsible for it, so maybe that's the problem.

Anyway, what he does is test his level first thing on waking. If it's up high, he takes his medication and delays breakfast. After 45 minutes to an hour, he tests again and eats as long as he's in the right range. So far, he has always been fine on that second testing.

Great discussion! It's fine to go off topic if you have something that you want to talk about. No irritation at all on my part!

You're right that trying to pinpoint exactly what is causing blood sugar levels to rise, or what you can do to get them under control, can be a difficult and complex process. It sounds like you're paying attention to as many different factors as you can, and that you've identified a couple that help (like eating later in the evening). For more specific information, I would also bring these questions to your doctor and local diabetes team. They may be able to offer additional insight and suggestions.

I hope this helps!

I have started to have a big problem with having really high levels in the morning. The doctor has me on daily exercise and diet to control. When I exercise it drops to good levels I have have just about give up on all food I love. That was very hard being that I love pastas. I walk a mile every day but still having a problem. I have fond though that after breakfast it either drops to normal (106-120) or if I lose count of portions it raises to 220. I also have not figured it out not eat late or eat late. It is very frustrating. nice to hear I am not the only one.

You mentioned taking medication and waiting a while to take a second blood sugar count in the morning if the first reading is high. When is the best time to take your diabetes meds? I've been trying to experiment with different things for snacks before bedtime to bring down that Pre-dawn high sugar. Cereal, skim milk and fruit sometimes do it - other times it is cheese and crackers and a slice of ham or turkey. I tried the TBS of peanutbutter and that did NOT do it for me.

Now I am beginning to wonder if I should experiment with what time I take my Metformin. I have always taken it first thing in the morning before I test my sugan. Do most of you take it in the morning before testing or do any of you take it at night. I am wondering if taking my meds at night might even out my blood sugar better in the morning and prevent the pre-dawn highs.

The glucerna doesn't do it either as a bedtime snack...... so help please.....

What do you all eat at night to keep morning blood sugar down?
When do you take you diabetes meds - morning or night & before or after testing?

I have a couple of suggestions.

First, for Raye. It's great that you're walking a mile each day, but think about increasing that if possible. Accumulating at least 30 minutes of activity every day can help control blood sugar levels, and many people find that if they exercise for short periods of time throughout the day it gives them a lot of benefit. Even a 10 minute walk after a meal may be helpful.

For mathlady with the metformin question, be sure to talk with your physician before you change the timing of any medication. The long-acting metformin is often taken with the evening meal, so you might ask your doctor about that. As for your evening snack, first think about how hungry you are, or if you're even really hungry. Sometimes we just get in the habit of eating an evening snack and skipping it might work better.