While working shifts can play havoc with any person's diet, this can be a particularly serious issue for people with diabetes, a dietician has warned.

According to Rosemarie Kelly, a dietician at the South infirmary Victoria University Hospital in Cork, working shifts can be a big challenge for those with diabetes because ‘like it or not, a lot of time in your week is probably spent at work and what you eat and do there inevitably has an impact on blood glucose control'.

While some people are able to cope with irregular hours, long shifts and even night shifts, for others, ‘it can take a bit more thought to eat in a healthy way'.

She noted that shiftwork can make a person ‘work against the natural rhythms of their body clock'. This can lead to shift-related fatigue and when you are tired, foods high in fat and sugar can be more tempting. This can lead to a reliance on fast foods and takeaways.

Ms Kelly also noted that it can be difficult to know when to take your diabetes medication or how to time insulin doses. She said each individual should work this out with the help of their diabetes team.

Physical activity can also have an impact. If you mainly sit at a desk, your blood glucose levels may rise. If you have a very physical job, you may be more prone to hypoglycaemia, which is when the level of glucose in the blood drops below a certain point. This can cause symptoms such as dizziness, sweating and palpitations. These usually go away 10-15 minutes after eating sugar.

Ms Kelly insisted that the key for people with diabetes is to plan ahead. Bring healthy food with you from home, so you are not relying on takeaways. When cooking at home, cook extra portions which can be used as handy meals in work. Reuse leftovers and always have healthy snacks on hand, such as fruit, wholemeal scones and rice cakes.

"No matter what time your working day starts, aim to eat your planned snacks and three main meals - breakfast, a light meal and your main meal. Avoid continuous snacking throughout your shift," she advised.

Ms Kelly added that planning ahead ‘is the route to success for improved blood glucose levels at home and work'.

She made her comments in Diabetes Ireland, the journal of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland.