Advice about early morning highs

[RosieLKH]

I always have higher blood sugar levels when I get up and they will steadily fall throughout the day, unless I stupidly eat some carbs (and I do occasionally).

I low carb (no bread, potatoes, pasta or rice - generally below 50g carbs a day), and my biggest meal of the day is around 7pm. I may start the day between 8 & 13, depending on how good I am with low carbing, and will fall to normal levels advised by my DN of 5 to 7 by mid afternoon. I don't like to go much below 5 as I'm on gliclazide and I have had a hypo which was frightening.

I've got a cataract operation coming up, which requires me to go in to hospital at 7:15am. They will test my BS and I am afraid it will be higher than they like and they'll send me away, since it's a non-essential op.

I am being really strict with my low carbing at the moment, and so am OK with my general levels, but I feel better if I could do something more to get the morning BS lower. I've even thought about getting up around 3am on the day to see if I'm below 8 by the time I get tested, but I'm not sure if that will work.

Any ideas?

 

[Deleted Account]

A high BG in the morning is common. It is called Dawn Phenomenon (DP) and is the body's way of preparing for the day.
There are a lot of threads discussing this.

The advice I've always been given is to run my BG a little high when I have an op as this is preferable to a hypo. I would be surprised if they sent you away with a BG under 10.

As t1, my diabetes is managed differently to yours (insulin) so don't want to give you any specific advice. Perhaps there are others with experience.

 

[RosieLKH]

Yes, I know it's the dawn phenomenon and normally I'm not too concerned about it. I just wondered if there is anything practical I can do about it.

 

[Goonergal]

You say you range from 8-13 in the morning. Do you record what you eat so you can check which meals lead to a lower fasting number? Or is there time before the op to start doing this?

For me, eating earlier the night before, eating less protein (or fish rather than meat) and a bit of gentle exercise after dinner all tend to lead to a lower number in the morning. None of this is guaranteed, but those are the trends I’ve noticed.

 

[RosieLKH]

You say you range from 8-13 in the morning. Do you record what you eat so you can check which meals lead to a lower fasting number? Or is there time before the op to start doing this?

For me, eating earlier the night before, eating less protein (or fish rather than meat) and a bit of gentle exercise after dinner all tend to lead to a lower number in the morning. None of this is guaranteed, but those are the trends I’ve noticed.

Thanks for that. You're right in assuming I've not got too much time to experiment, but I can certainly limit the protein and eat earlier. Two very simple things to try.

The exercising is a bit more difficult on dark evenings because I tend to go walking, but I can try something like walking up and down the stairs.

 

[kokhongw]

From my experience, skipping dinner or having dinner before 6pm helps. Fasting BG has stayed around 5.5 mmol for the last 2 years.

Sleep disruptions, ie waking up at 3am to check, would likely worsen it. Getting enough sunlight during the day and sleeping well improves our circadian rhythm and sleeps quality. All these help to improve our glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

 

[kokhongw]

depending on how good I am with low carbing, and will fall to normal levels advised by my DN of 5 to 7 by mid afternoon. I don't like to go much below 5 as I'm on gliclazide and I have had a hypo which was frightening.

The challenge in your situation is that you are on gliclazide and insulin. Both of which gives you risk of hypo, unless you eat the correct amount of carbs...so any adjustment on the diet would require corresponding adjustments to your medication which only your Dr can provide.

Information/suggestions provided on the forum should only be taken as points of discussions with your HCP.

 

[mandi26]

Hi I find eating a lump or two of cheese and drinking loads (750ml ) of water helps bring my readings down.

 

[RosieLKH]

Hi I find eating a lump or two of cheese and drinking loads (750ml ) of water helps bring my readings down.

Do you mean you eat the cheese at bedtime?
I did exactly that last night and had water and my BS this morning is the lowest it's been for a couple of weeks.