Breakfast is an important meal, especially for type 2 diabetics. Diabetics who skip breakfast tend to have more problems regulating their blood glucose levels. Why? It is likely a result of several factors:

• Routinely skipping breakfast will increase the body's insulin response, resulting in increased fat storage and weight gain. In fact, studies have shown that people who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight.
• A healthy breakfast replenishes energy stores that burn off during the night. Those who pass on the meal may have lower energy and burn off fewer calories and carbs.
• Eating breakfast leads to smarter meal plan choices throughout the rest of the day. Have you ever noticed that when you skip breakfast you become so hungry that by mid-morning you begin to scavenge for whatever is around? When you do eat, you gobble it down so quickly that you end up eating way too much. Immediately, this causes a spike in blood sugar. Long-term, this leads to weight gain and the increased likelihood of developing diabetes-related complications.
• Sticking to your personalized meal plan (which, for most diabetics, includes 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrate per meal), regulates carbohydrate intake. Skipping a meal asks a broken endocrine system to try to maintain blood glucose levels with even fewer tools. It's like asking a child to complete a jig-saw puzzle without giving them all of the pieces. It just doesn't work.

What you eat for breakfast is also important. Breakfast has the potential of becoming a very calorie and carbohydrate-dense meal if you are not careful.

The following links provide more information about choosing healthy breakfast meals when you have diabetes:

Breakfast Meals for Diabetics on the Go - Make it a Wrap

Mornings tend to be hectic for most people, but wraps can be an efficient way to ensure a healthy start. A 6" tortilla is going to provide about 15 grams of carbohydrate. Fill the tortilla with another 30 to 45 grams of carbohydrate in the form of low-fat dairy, fruit, or whole-grain starches. Round out the meal with some lean proteins, nuts or a glass of skim milk. Take it to go! Here are some ideas:

Diabetic Breakfast Smoothies

Choose your favorite recipe, then prep your blender with the ingredients (minus the ice) in the evening, so you are ready to blend in the morning. Just stick the pitcher in the fridge overnight.

Low-fat dairy products provide protein, carbohydrate, and work well as a base for many smoothie recipes. Silken tofu or peanut butter can be used as an alternative to yogurt, and/or to cut the carbohydrate content of the smoothie.

If you are lactose-intolerant, use lactose-free or soy milk in place of skim milk, and silken tofu in place of yogurt (if the recipe requires it).

Another tip: Bananas incorporate well into smoothies and help to produce a nice, smooth texture. They also offer natural sweetness. If your meal plan allows enough carbohydrate for you to add a small banana to you smoothie, I highly recommend using bananas to improve smoothie results. Here are some smoothie ideas: