I know this is a much discussed topic, but there's something I struggle to find a good evidence-based answer for. I know what the dawn phenomenon is, roughly why it happens etc. What I don't know is what to do about it. For context, I do keto, and IF. Most of the time I do 20/4 or OMAD. Occasionally I eat a "normal" day which for me is roughly 12/12. Every now and then I fast 36 - 50 hours. Lately I'm finding on 20/4 or OMAD days, my BG starts high 6 or low 7, but it doesn't seem to drop very much before I eat. On 12/12 days, my BG seems to drop after breakfast into the low 6s or even 5s. On long fasts, it takes more than 24 hours to get to a good level, and I sometimes see levels in the 5s the next day or two. Oh, and I eat keto (or very close to keto) all the while. So experience suggests that 20/4 or OMAD is causing BG levels to be higher than 12/12.
So the question part...is it healthier to abandon time-restricted eating so I can get lower levels during the day? Or is the dawn phenomenon depleting liver glycogen that will ultimately help resolve insulin resistance? Is anyone aware of any studies in this area?
So the question part...is it healthier to abandon time-restricted eating so I can get lower levels during the day? Or is the dawn phenomenon depleting liver glycogen that will ultimately help resolve insulin resistance? Is anyone aware of any studies in this area?