Is it more dangerous for diabetics to eat too much or too little?

Answer 1

Both actually. If you are diabetic eating too much can cause really high blood glucose which, if left untreated, can cause all kinds of complications including nerve and kidney damage. High blood sugar can also put a person into a coma that may result in death. Diabetics on insulin that eat too little can end up with really low blood sugars that can cause seizures and diabetic coma, and can even die. Diabetes can be a tricky balance of proper diet and exercise and the right amount of medication. It is important for diabetics to learn how to control their levels, to eat right and to medicate properly.

Answer 2

Dangerous is not a word I would apply.

Most diabetics are type 2, so called maturity onset. 95% of these are obese. It is thus important that they loose weight and take vigorous exercise, these 2 things, together with eating a balanced diet, avoiding high GI foods, will help their disease.

When diabetics are put on drugs which produce a lowering of the blood sugar, insulin or most, but not all, of the diabetic tablets, they must take care to eat at the appropriate time, and sufficient to stop the drugs producing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Perversely, for this reason they tend to gain weight on their medication, which in turn can make there diabetes worse!

Answer 3

The only diet that a diabetic, and I've been one for over 12 years, is a healthy diet. A dietician would advise you about this but in general terms it's simply less fatty and sugary foods and more fruit and vegetables. The answer is easy, eat too much, do no exercise, burn off no calories = weight gain which increases your chances of becoming diabetic.

Answer 4

I would say both! I have seen the results of overeating - high blood sugar levels, blindness, foot problems etc and I have experienced the lows. Yesterday I was in a well known store when I hypoed and stood in the middle of the floor and eat 2 mars bars - wrapping included - with sweat pouring off me as if I had come out of the shower!

A test later showed I was still only 3.2! I was escorted out of the building! Trouble is eating for me is a chore (for other physical reasons), plus I was under a lot of pressure at home. I dare not go back into the store again!

Answer 5

Diabetics need to eat at regular intervals as this helps to keep their sugar levels constant. Some need to eat every four hours, this will be work out and discussed by a dietitian, they will set you a plan so you know what to eat and how often, with a variety of foods that are safe for the diabetic to eat.

Answer 6

Both really,

If you don't eat enough and you are injecting Insulin into your system then your blood sugars will fall lower than 4 and you will have a hypo which is you need sugar quick

Your bloods should be between 4-7 for your system to run healthy so if you eat to much the insulin has to much to do its job and you will run at over 7, which is not good

Answer 7

It is actually more dangerous for a diabetic to eat to little!

Answer 8

With insulin dependent Diabetes, not eating enough causes serious problems with a rapid onset. Excessively low glucose levels can cause coma or death. Excessively high glucose can also cause coma and death. Moderately high glucose causes an effect known as glycation, where the excess glucose binds to receptor proteins in the body causing the body functions to slowly degrade. Tis causes increased blood pressure, decreased nerve function, kidney and liver failure, heart problems. and many many other problems.

Answer 9

You are better off with a high blood sugar than a low one. Neither condition is ideal. A high blood sugar should be corrected as soon as possible. A low blood sugar if not corrected soon can cause you to act as if you're drunk and go unconscious.

Answer 10

too little or too much what depends what the food is they have to eat regular meals