Are late-night snacks OK for people who have diabetes?
If you have diabetes, late-night snacks may be OK. But as with anything you eat, you need to make healthy choices.
Late-night snacks add extra calories, which can lead to weight gain. And snacking after your evening meal, especially on foods with carbohydrates, may lead to a high blood sugar level the next morning.
If you're hungry after dinner, drink a glass of water first. Sometimes thirst feels like hunger. If you're still hungry, eat a low-carbohydrate, low-calorie snack. Pick one that's high in protein or fiber, such as Greek yogurt or air-popped popcorn.
Other choices include:
- A sugar-free frozen pop.
- One light cheese stick.
- One tablespoon of peanut butter (15 grams) and celery.
- A hard-boiled egg.
- Salad greens with cucumber and a dash of oil and vinegar.
If you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, you may need to snack before bedtime to treat or prevent low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, during the night. If this happens often, talk with your healthcare professional. You may need to change the dose of your medicines to keep from needing a late-night snack.
Show References
- 5 tips to curb your late-night snacking. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/healthful-habits/5-tips-to-curb-your-late-night-snacking. Accessed April 22, 2025.
- Harris C, et al. Can circadian eating pattern adjustments reduce risks or prevent development of T2D? Nutrients. 2023; doi:10.3390/nu15071762.
- Low blood sugar: Hypoglycemia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/low-blood-sugar-hypoglycemia.html. Accessed April 23, 2025.
- Healthy living with diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/healthy-living-with-diabetes. Accessed April 23, 2025.
- Simon SL, et al. The impact of self-selected time restricted eating intervention on eating patterns, sleep, and late-night eating in individuals with obesity. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2022; doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.1007824.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/diabetes/faq-20058372