Question from New Jersey, USA:

I was diagnosed with type 2 and actually found out after severe dehydration and weight loss. At that time, about two years ago, my a1c was about 13.2! However, with very proper advice from an excellent endocrinologist and with a bit of effort on understanding my situation, I have managed to keep my A1c levels at 5.9%, 5.7% and 5.5% during the last three check-ups, in the period of a little more than a year. I am under medication and take only one dose of metformin 500 mg, once a day.

While I am pretty much happy with my overall control, I had a question as regards diet. I have a decent breakfast at 8:00 a.m. every day, followed by lunch at 12 to 12:30 p.m., but have my dinner mostly only around 7:00 p.m. every day. Unfortunately, because of my work situation, I have this seven hour gap, but I do have some snacks occasionally. While I do not feel very hungry at all in between, does it have any negative effects on my control or is it fine if this suits me? I do check my sugar level everyday, about four to six times and, on average, my fasting reading is about 102 to 105 mg/dl [5.7 to 5.8 mmol/L]. Post breakfast readings average about 100 mg/dl [5.6 mmol/L] and post lunch readings average about 100 to 110 mg/dl [5.6 to 6.1 mmol/L]. They are about the same for pre-dinner and post dinner as well. Sometimes pre-dinner, I am about 80 to 90 mg/dl [4.4 to 5.0 mmol/L], but I guess it may be because of the long gap. Do you think its advisable to have a long gap in between meals, especially since the readings seem to be okay and have been this way for almost two years? I walk about three to five miles every day and lead a pretty active life.