Sugar levels 1st thing in the morning

[44nanacarol]

After being diagnosed in Dec 2011. I honestly have just blagged my way through the last 4 years. A new doctor took over diabetic clinic and put me on metaformin 2x 500mg daily. My readings at the last test were 7.2. Which I don't think is too bad. Controlled level doctor said. Without going into any detail. So I'm pretty oblivious to what's right and wrong. My BP is sometimes high. But last week after suffering a ear nfection and sickness bug. I literally lost the plot, totally confused. A paramagnetic came to my home. My BP was over 200 my sugar level was 14.2.. since then my daughter has bought me monitors for BP & sugar levels. My question is**** on a morning before food my reading is about 13.2 & bp quite high. After food about 8.3 & BP normal??? I'm now on a low carb and low GI eating plan. Just not getting the help from my gp much

 

[Liam1955]

@44nanacarol - Hello and Welcome to the Forum. I will tag @daisy1 who will provide you with some basic information that all new members receive. Have a good read, and ask any questions you may have.

 

[daisy1]

@44nanacarol

Hello and welcome to the forum Here, as mentioned above, is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find this useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

 

[OceansEdge]

@44nanacarol - I'm fairly new at this ... going on 3 weeks since diagnosis, but yeah I see the same thing, often my fasting reading in the morning is significantly higher than the one 2 hours after breakfast and meds (metformin) and that was confusing, the advice I was given was that perhaps it's what's called the 'dawn phenomenon' ... (the odd part for me is that this is true whether I'm asleep at night ie weekends, or up all night working during the week and sleeping during the day)
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/dawn-phenomenon.html

 

[Bluetit1802]

The dawn phenomenon is a liver dump. The liver produces glucose when it thinks the body needs a bit extra, such as early mornings after fasting all night, during exercise, and in times of illness, fear, stress, anxiety. (no matter what time of day it is!) It is a natural function that happens to everyone. It can also happen when someone changes their diet to a low carb (and therefore low glucose) diet when the body is used to running at higher levels then suddenly the glucose drops due to the diet. The liver tries to push them up a bit, but this doesn't last very long as the body soon becomes used to running at a lower level.

Do read Daisy's post. It has some very useful information, and ask questions if you need to.

 

[KevinPotts]

44nanacarol, I am nearly 4 weeks post diagnosis and into the 4th week of my LCHF diet. I also experienced the dawn phenomenon, but by week two, I had stabilised and now usually have lower FBG than my +2 hours after dinner BG. So don't worry. Apple cider vinegar tabs are also my staple tonic with a glass of water prior to bed as numerous references have indicated they help with DP and mine has certainly stabilised.


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[bulkbiker]

As you can see from above some people get their the dawn phenomenon down really quickly however it took me 6 months of low carbing to get lower morning numbers.. don't give up if you don't get immediate results they will work eventually.
Regards
Mark

 

[PurpleArmadillo]

Hi @44nanacarol
I was diagnosed T2 a week ago and immediately went low carb and started self-testing. I'm having the exact same problem with my morning levels being very raised. I was really disappointed the first couple of times as I'd been really strict with the diet. I seem to get my lowest readings before dinner as I eat late after a busy day at work and a walk with the dogs. So I'm focusing on the success with that reading right now and hoping the DP will resolve itself.
Sorry to hear you were so poorly x

 

[Liam1955]

@44nanacarol - @PurpleArmadillo - @KevinPotts - To counteract high morning blood sugars, having a protein snack before bed of: cooked meat, boiled egg, cheese or handful of nuts. But NO CARBS.

 

[KevinPotts]

Yes Liam, something, especially the cheese that I've added to my wine vinegar to get the liver focusing on something else other than giving me the glucose boost so that I can get up. I know some people take a small glass of red or dry white wine for similar effect...sadly I still have 10 more weeks without the grape


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[Bluetit1802]

I believe we do need to be careful eating protein at bedtime and keep the portions very tiny. A percentage of protein also converts to glucose and this conversion takes a long time - it can have an adverse effect on morning levels, and if not first thing in the morning, then later on in the morning. Some of our type 1s will confirm this as many need to inject for protein as well as carbs.

 

[KevinPotts]

Thanks Bluetit1802!


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