Endocrinologist Grigory Dolgushin has warned that four specific groups of people must always eat breakfast to prevent adverse medical consequences. Dolgushin shared the advice on his personal Telegram channel, challenging the widespread assumption that a morning meal is universally essential for good health.
According to the specialist, the most critical need for breakfast falls on individuals living with diabetes mellitus who use prescribed therapies such as insulin or sulfonylurea. Dolgushin warned that failing to eat after taking these medications can precipitate hypoglycemia, an acute medical state marked by a sudden and dangerous drop in blood glucose levels.
Endocrinologists specialize in the glands and hormones that govern bodily metabolism, including how cells absorb sugar from food. Diabetes occurs when the body either fails to produce adequate insulin or cannot use it effectively. Medications such as synthetic insulin and sulfonylureas work by reducing the concentration of sugar in the bloodstream. If patients administer these drugs without supplying their bodies with carbohydrates, blood sugar levels can plummet, leading to dizziness, profuse sweating, confusion, and potential unconsciousness.
High risk groups for morning nutrition
Beyond individuals managing diabetes, Dolgushin identified three additional demographics who should never miss a morning meal. The physician emphasized that pregnant women, young children, and athletes who exercise early in the day also require regular nourishment upon waking.
Medical science recognizes that both childhood and pregnancy place substantial physiological demands on metabolic reserves. Expecting mothers require steady nutritional intake to support placental function and fetal growth, while children possess smaller glycogen stores and higher basal metabolic rates relative to their body size. For athletes who engage in intensive training at dawn, an overnight fast leaves liver glycogen depleted, meaning exercise without fuel can force the body to break down muscle tissue and accelerate fatigue.
Recommended breakfast foods and metabolic myths
For healthy adults outside these four categories, Dolgushin clarified that breakfast is merely a standard meal rather than a miraculous technique to kickstart human metabolism. He instructed his audience to eat only when they experience genuine morning hunger, reassuring readers that there is no physiological harm in abstaining if they do not feel an appetite.
For those who do sit down to eat, Dolgushin advised selecting foods high in protein and dietary fiber while avoiding sugary cereals and white bread with jam. The doctor explained that high sugar breakfast staples cause a rapid spike in blood glucose, prompting a sharp insulin release that leaves individuals hungry again shortly afterwards. In contrast, protein and dietary fiber slow digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, ensuring a gradual release of energy into the bloodstream and longer lasting satiety.
Dolgushin's recommendations on breakfast come amid growing discussion among Russian medical professionals regarding the timing of daily meals. Cardiologist Sergey Vechtomov previously issued a warning regarding the risks of eating late dinners. Vechtomov explained that eating close to bedtime can disrupt nighttime circulation and trigger elevated blood pressure during sleep.
