Early morning highs

[Cazhq88]

Hi there,

I am trying to take better control of my blood sugar levels but feel regardless of what I do, I'm continuously getting high blood sugars in the morning. I can go to bed with a blood sugar of 6 and wake up at 13. This is me testing at 10pm then again at 6am. I've tried to increase my nighttime slow acting insulin and it just makes me hypo during the night. If anyone has any experiences of this and what worked for them to combat it would be much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[EllieM]

Sounds like it is the dawn phenomena (liver dumps sugar when you wake) but you'd either need to set an alarm for during the night or a cgm such as a libre to tell. Sometimes just increasing the basal can make things worse.

I self fund a dexcom (I'm very lucky to be able to afford this) and my coping method is often to inject a couple of units of bolus at 4 or 5 am (when my levels start to rise). Interestingly, my DP is less when I have less carbs in the evening (not sure why, that's just the way it works for me).

Going hypo in the night will actually increase your morning levels so it's counter productive. Unless you're prepared to inject at 4 or 5 am you may be best to move to a pump.... (Assuming this is dawn phenomena, but you really need to do some night time testing first).

 

[Juicyj]

Hi @Cazhq88

The easiest way to check what’s going on is to set your alarm for 3am and do a test then and see what’s happening as this is the point during the night when your levels are at their lowest, eating late or eating a high fat meal which would delay the carb absorption but so will DP as Ellie has said or if you are hypo in your sleep the liver dump will send you high too but you would generally wake feeling lousy.

 

[michita]

Have you tried resistance training? I’ve started moderate exercise before going to sleep every night (4 sets of 20 squats + 40 second plank) and it’s making a noticeable positive impact.

 

[EllieM]

Have you tried resistance training? I’ve started moderate exercise before going to sleep every night (4 sets of 20 squats + 40 second plank) and it’s making a noticeable positive impact.

That is interesting. Thanks. I might give it a try.

 

[Cazhq88]

Sounds like it is the dawn phenomena (liver dumps sugar when you wake) but you'd either need to set an alarm for during the night or a cgm such as a libre to tell. Sometimes just increasing the basal can make things worse.

I self fund a dexcom (I'm very lucky to be able to afford this) and my coping method is often to inject a couple of units of bolus at 4 or 5 am (when my levels start to rise). Interestingly, my DP is less when I have less carbs in the evening (not sure why, that's just the way it works for me).

Going hypo in the night will actually increase your morning levels so it's counter productive. Unless you're prepared to inject at 4 or 5 am you may be best to move to a pump.... (Assuming this is dawn phenomena, but you really need to do some night time testing first).

Thank you! I've got a libre but was tempted to upgrade to a dexcom so think I'll def need to look at this. I've set alarms for that time in the past and my sugars have tended to be okay but then increase by 6am annoyingly. Think I'll need to start doing it again and documenting it for my next clinic. Thanks for your advice

 

[Cazhq88]

Hi @Cazhq88

The easiest way to check what’s going on is to set your alarm for 3am and do a test then and see what’s happening as this is the point during the night when your levels are at their lowest, eating late or eating a high fat meal which would delay the carb absorption but so will DP as Ellie has said or if you are hypo in your sleep the liver dump will send you high too but you would generally wake feeling lousy.

Yeah I've set alarms before but think ikk start doing it again and keeping a diary over a period of time for it too. Thank you

 

[Cazhq88]

Have you tried resistance training? I’ve started moderate exercise before going to sleep every night (4 sets of 20 squats + 40 second plank) and it’s making a noticeable positive impact.

No I've never even thought of this! I'll def give it a try thanks!

 

[Ley666]

Have you tried resistance training? I’ve started moderate exercise before going to sleep every night (4 sets of 20 squats + 40 second plank) and it’s making a noticeable positive impact.

I'm going to try this!

 

[Juicyj]

Thank you! I've got a libre but was tempted to upgrade to a dexcom so think I'll def need to look at this. I've set alarms for that time in the past and my sugars have tended to be okay but then increase by 6am annoyingly. Think I'll need to start doing it again and documenting it for my next clinic. Thanks for your advice

With DP you have a good case to ask for a pump as you can add a setting which will change your basal rate to cover this rise, as the pump only uses quick acting to act as a drip feed of basal over 24 hours you can add different settings throughout this period - worth a chat with your DSN but make sure you are armed with some evidence first so keep a diary to show them - this is of course if you were to consider a pump.

 

[bree1982]

Its funny l have the very same thing, most mornings wake to 11+ and have been around 6 or 7 until 3-4am, then boom goes north...

I have also tried increasing my levimir at night but as previously mentioned, it just drops me so low l hypo....

I just got approved for Libre 2 and im hoping this will help with it rising as l can take some Novorapid and get back to sleep.

My Diabetes specialist nurse has agreed with me l more than likely have DP, but to get a pump you need to do the card counting course, which l havent, im also not sure about having a pump and something constantly in me, but l was very interested in the minimed-670g-system.

The late nigh traing sounds like something l should do and well need to as this lockdown has not been kind to my weight lol

Brendan