If you are a ‘Bed Hungry’ or ‘Night-time Eater’ then this information is for you.

Late night food consuming post dinner or in between the person’s typical sleep cycle is more likely to store those calories as fat which eventually gain weight rather than burn it. Eating a full meal late at night right before going to bed has been linked to a number of health hazards like increase in blood sugar levels, heart diseases, obesity and acidity.

In layman’s Language, the later you eat, the later you sleep which eventually will have adverse effects on your memory and efficiency for the next day. As night-time eaters typically make poorer food choices and eat more calories, which can be harmful. Being overweight or having obesity increases the risk of diabetes-related complications.

A diabetic choosing late night snaking post dinner especially foods with carbohydrates may wake you up with a high blood sugar level the next morning.

If you take insulin or other diabetes medications, you may sometimes need a tactical late-night snack before bedtime to treat or prevent low blood sugar during the night. A person’s blood sugar levels change during the night. In the midnight glucose levels drop significantly and body releases hormones that raise blood sugar levels and in the morning blood sugar levels surge as part of the process of waking up which causes high blood sugar levels.

Everyone’s blood sugar levels change throughout the night. A snack before bed may help balance these levels and fasting for too long can make the liver overproduce glucose, which can raise blood sugar.

If you have late-night hunger, try drinking a glass of water first. Sometimes thirst mimics hunger. If hunger feeling persists, go for low-carbohydrate, low-calorie snack, preferably one that is high in protein or fiber and negligibly processed foods like berries, kiwis, goji berries, pistachios, oatmeal, and plain yogurt. Late-night snacks are not necessarily banned, but it is important to make healthy preferences.