[bsmietana]

My morning blood sugar always seems to be high - even when I haven't eaten carbs or other high sugar foods.

On Sunday it was 128 - and a few hours later down to 80.

Same thing today. 140 in the am - then 80 by noon. (I had worked out).

Tonight its 110 after eating and I am concerned it might be going up overnight?

Any suggestions?

 

[tony0611]

This is called the Dawn Phenomenon. You can read all about this on the website Blood Sugar 101 under the section "Why Is Blood Sugar Highest in the Morning?" The website is also a very good information resource for several other topics on Diabetes

In short, early in the morning (around 4 or 5) our body witnesses some hormonal activity which prepares the body for the day ahead by releasing some stored glucose (in the form of "glycogen") in the blood for energy. This release is done by the liver. Our diabetic bodies do not have enough insulin to manage this dump and we result with higher BGs in the morning

There are many ways to reduce the impact of the Dawn Phenomenon. You can read about it in the link I posted above. I have found that in the case of my mom a low carb diet followed for several weeks reduced the impact of the DP for her. Maybe that's gotta do with depleting glycogen (glucose stored by the liver) stores ?

May sound a little technical but thats a rough explanation.....



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[jwags]

Dawn Phenomenom happens with almost everyone. The difference with diabetics seems to be when hormones like adrenaline, cortisol and growth hormone are produced, then the liver responds with changing stored glycogen into glucose. In a healthy person then their pancreas would then secrete some basil insulin to keep bgs low. Our insulin levels tend to be at their lowest early in the morning. This is why long acting insulin helps so many diabetics. When you get up and eat, your pancreas starts to produce insulin again which accounts for your lower bgs after you eat.

 

[bsmietana]

Thanks much - that's very helpful. My blood sugar 2 hours after dinner was 110, woke up at 5:30 and it was 101 - and then at 730 it was 127 (without eating)