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How long is the effect of dawn phenomenon?

Kaha

Kaha

Well-Known Member
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214
Location
Canada
Type of diabetes
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Tablets (oral)
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Hypocrite
I am for sure a sufferer of the dawn phenomenon with higher fasting BS levels(8- 9s) in the mornings.
Can anybody has the information for what duration the phenomenon exists and does such phenomenon is of risk to me?
 
That's a very good question, as I understand it (please feel free to correct me all you more knowledgeable people!) the dawn phenomenon is the body waking up and the liver dumping glycogen to get us ready for action. This is a normal process for both diabetics and non-diabetics, I think if you test immediately on waking up you may pre-empt the liver dump, but once up and moving around the reading is likely to be higher. I guess that you would need to test a number of times before eating to see how long it lasts.
 
For me it lasted right up until lunchtime, but the length of time it lasts depends on many factors I suppose..........

the main thing to understand is that the phenomenon is simply your bodies response to a long period of fasting and therefore a lack of fuel to use in the process of waking............

so fill the fuel tank as soon as you can and the hormones that tell the liver to help out with glucose, will stop/decrease.........;)
 
My DP comes on rather later than some people's, around 6.30 - 7 am it begins, but I've read that DP mainly happens between the hours of 3 - 8 in a morning, but some lucky people do escape it and see no noticeable rise in bg levels,

As a type 1 I have to pre-empt it and inject and eat upon waking otherwise I can in double figures within 2 hours, sorry not sure what you can do Kaha, perhaps other type 2's might be able to help here.
 
Many type 2's on here have tried to combat it, and mostly failed. It is a natural phenomenon and I think we just have to live with it, but make sure we eat as soon as possible after we get up.

I'm one of the lucky ones, so it's easy for me to speak. I don't suffer with it. I tend to be almost flat from bedtime to getting up, but if I am in the 4's at bedtime I see a rise up to the 5's again by morning. My liver clearly doesn't like 4's, and I'm happy with that.
 
I've been gettig this every day do far, although my rise tends to be mid to late morning. I know my levels are still quite unstable, but my levels are around 7 - 9 at bedtime, similar up till around 9am, but by around 11am, before I've eaten anything, I can be anything up to 17!
I have real problems eating as soon after I get up but have been having a lump of cheese to try and stop this happening, is that enough? I've been thinking of trying a 9 bar when I first get up with my first cuppa, would that help?

And are Dawn Phenomena and Liver dump the same thing? Mine doesn't happen at dawn but could that be because I go to sleep late and get up late? Sorry if that's a daft question, but how does my body know the time? ;)
I'm getting so frustrated by this! I'm doing really well getting my numbers down but this morning thing is spoiling it, they're the highest numbers I get now and I don't think it's my fault! Or is it? Would love to find a way of stopping it!
 
rowan said:
I've been gettig this every day do far, although my rise tends to be mid to late morning. I know my levels are still quite unstable, but my levels are around 7 - 9 at bedtime, similar up till around 9am, but by around 11am, before I've eaten anything, I can be anything up to 17!
I have real problems eating as soon after I get up but have been having a lump of cheese to try and stop this happening, is that enough? I've been thinking of trying a 9 bar when I first get up with my first cuppa, would that help?

And are Dawn Phenomena and Liver dump the same thing? Mine doesn't happen at dawn but could that be because I go to sleep late and get up late? Sorry if that's a daft question, but how does my body know the time? ;)
I'm getting so frustrated by this! I'm doing really well getting my numbers down but this morning thing is spoiling it, they're the highest numbers I get now and I don't think it's my fault! Or is it? Would love to find a way of stopping it!
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Liver dumps are natural and happen to us all, including non-diabetics. Our livers are very clever organs, they dump the glucose to help us get going after a night asleep and doing nothing, they also help us to keep going when we are exercising. Liver dumps happen all the time if our livers think we need the help. I don't get them in the morning, but I do get them during exercise, and it doesn't have to be strenuous exercise. A short walk does it for me. If you don't eat anything for a few hours after getting up, and are pottering about doing things, you will get a dump. Your liver thinks your body needs the glucose. It isn't your fault, but you could help by solving your breakfast eating problems and trying to eat earlier. Is this possible? I'm not sure a piece of cheese would help, it clearly doesn't in your case. If you can manage cheese or a 9bar, how come you can't manage a breakfast? Greek yogurt with a few berries maybe?
 
No, I know yoghurt with a few berries is the usual suggestion but I hate yoghurt! Nibbling on a bar is different to making a breakfast, I can't eat a cooked breakfast until at least lunchtime and cereals are out.
Other health problems get in the way in the mornings and the only way I can make sure I eat is to have something as easy as possible, otherwise I just leave it till I feel better, and that's 2-3 hours after gettng up.
Is a 9 bar no good for breakfast then?
 
I have no idea about 9Bars as I have never had one and haven't a clue what they are. I do know some people on the forum eat them, but I believe you have to chose the ones with lower carbs as they all vary. I'm with you on having a cooked breakfast at lunch times. This is what I do. My breakfast has to be quick and easy because I am too dopey in the mornings to do much else! (probably because I don't get liver dumps so my body doesn't wake up properly till I've eaten!) Why not try a 9Bar and see what happens?
 
I've put them on my shopping list for delivery tomorrow, 11.5 carbs each bar. Also ordered a jar of pickled eggs to see if they help, 1 carb each. Will test them both and see :)
 
I microwave 2 herta frankfurtas for about 40 second just to warm them up, or a price of crustless cheese and bacon quiche (homemade) either cold or warmed up.

i have found that I need to get some fat, as I'm in ketosis I use fat for fuel, within 30 mins of getting up otherwise I'm in the teens and feel like **** by lunchtime.
 
Hello , yes a 9 bar would be better than not eating at all ....
Check them out though , all different carbs and sugar levels ....personal,choice .....different types ...

You might find that you need a snack a bit later on ,

Some people don't like breakfast , but you need to look after yourself ...

Perhaps a coffee and a 9 bar would do the trick
 
rowan said:
What does being 'in ketosis' mean, and how do you know if you are?
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Ketosis is when you have changed your body from using carbs as fuel to burning fat for fuel. The signs for this are, bad breathe, stinky urine, weight loss and probably others. I use ketosticks to test my urine now and again to see if I'm staying in ketosis as I need to lose a lot more weight. My nurse pescribes them.
 
Lenny3 said:
Ketosis is when you have changed your body from using carbs as fuel to burning fat for fuel. The signs for this are, bad breathe, stinky urine, weight loss and probably others. I use ketosticks to test my urine now and again to see if I'm staying in ketosis as I need to lose a lot more weight. My nurse pescribes them.
Click to expand...

So does this always happen on a low carb diet?
 
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