Mom was right. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially if you have type 2 diabetes. Research shows skipping breakfast can be bad for blood sugar and insulin. After going all night and morning without eating, your blood sugar will rise higher after lunch and dinner than it would if you had eaten breakfast and will impair your body’s response to insulin. This is known as the “second meal phenomenon.”

To better manage your diabetes and give yourself an all-day advantage, try some of these healthy breakfast options:

FRUIT FILL-UP
Apples, bananas, oranges, clementines, pears, nectarines and peaches are great sources of fiber and other nutrients. To get in the recommended amount of fiber per day, it pays to start early.

GREAT GRAINS
Ditch the doughnuts and muffins. Stick with oatmeal, 100 percent whole wheat bread  and English muffins, or unsweetened whole-grain or bran cereal.

NUTRITIOUS NUTS
Try unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, or peanut or almond butter. The combo of heart-healthy fat and protein in nuts helps you avoid the midmorning energy slump.

POTENT PICK-ME-UP
Go ahead, have your fave cuppa joe or order a small latte with nonfat milk. Health perk: A recent study found a link between drinking coffee and a reduced risk for premature death among women with diabetes.

EGGS ANY STYLE
They’re a fast way to feel fuller. One study showed that people with type 2 diabetes reported less hunger and greater satiety levels when they ate two eggs per day. Keep a batch of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge to grab and go.

YES TO YOGURT
Eat plain, nonfat regular or Greek yogurt as is or make a smoothie with plain yogurt, frozen fruit and one tablespoon of peanut or almond butter. To keep tabs on carbs, skip flavored yogurt varieties.

VEGGIE DISGUISE
Smuggle peppers, tomatoes and onions into egg sandwiches, wraps and omelets.