A randomized, open-label, cross-over clinical trial finds that having breakfast daily is important for the 24-hour regulation of blood glucose. Skipping breakfast has been shown to increase HbA1C and all-day postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG) in patients with T2DM. In contrast, consuming a high-energy breakfast and a low-energy dinner reduce all-day postprandial glycemia.

The study included 26 individuals with T2DM; however, only 22 participants completed the trial. There were 10 participants who were being treated with just diet alone and 12 participants were treated with diet and metformin. On the meal test days, glucose and insulin levels were not statistically different between these individuals, whether they were on metformin or not.

Participants underwent two separate all-day meal tests with a washout period of 2 to 4 weeks between test days. These individuals were given identical lunch and dinner that had the same macronutrient content and composition whether they were in the breakfast group (YesB) or in the group with no breakfast (NoB). Those who were in the YesB get their first meal, which is their breakfast, at 0800h; whereas those that were in the NoB group get their first meal, which is their lunch, at 1330h. Results showed that breakfast omission resulted in impaired insulin secretion after lunch and dinner. Having breakfast results in higher level of GLP-1 and will enhance insulin secretion and reduce glucose level after lunch and dinner also prevents postprandial glucose excursions and complications in T2DM.

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