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Bg level

LIZZYLARD

LIZZYLARD

Newbie
Messages
1
Location
Werrington, Peterborough
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Help, I am getting really fed up already (only diagnosed on 2/03/18) Why when I have gone to bed the last two nights with readings of 6.3 on Monday night and 4.6 on Tuesday night have I woken up with levels of 10.7 and 10.2 this is really discouraging to me and quite frankly I feel like not eating anything.
 
This is likely to be something called "Dawn Phenomenon".
In the mornings (or after fasting for a while), our bodies, helpfully, release glucose into our blood to give us the energy to get up and on with our days.
This is normal for most people. Those without diabetes, are lucky enough to be able to release insulin to mop up this glucose and keep their BG steady.

If you take a look around this forum, you should find some helpful hints for how to reduce the affect of this.
 
Hi @LIZZYLARD This is relatively common with diabetics. I try to eat something soon after waking to counter the DP, so i've got food on board otherwise I get a liver dump which can send me up and up, I tend to have a low carb slice of bread or greek yoghurt. Try not to get stressed about it though as the stress is counter productive to your control too (think of stress hormones and insulin resistance).
 
I suffer from Dawn Phenomenon, too. I know it's rubbish and can feel so de-motivating when you're trying to do all the right things (which, if you're getting plenty of those 4's - it seems like you are!) I felt the same way and didn't feel like eating anything! Ironically, eating something is what might make a positive difference to you!

I started doing with Juicyj mentioned and have something (zero carb) pretty much as soon as I wake up (immediately after testing). This is usually coffee and cream or a handful of almonds.

In my first week or two after diagnosis I was waking up to levels of 9 to 13 and it just kept rising throughout the morning. While i'm still higher than i'd like in the morning (always hovering around 7), I've seen marked differences and I can see that my morning snack is stopping my blood sugar rising throughout the morning.

I'm currently testing around 3 hours after I wake up, just to keep tabs, and nowadays it's almost always the same as my level upon waking. I'm going to stop the mid-morning test soon if it stays this stable. By the time my pre-lunch test rolls around I'm usually late 5's/early 6.
 
LIZZYLARD said:
Help, I am getting really fed up already (only diagnosed on 2/03/18) Why when I have gone to bed the last two nights with readings of 6.3 on Monday night and 4.6 on Tuesday night have I woken up with levels of 10.7 and 10.2 this is really discouraging to me and quite frankly I feel like not eating anything.
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This is caused by insulin resistance, meaning when the liver dumps glucose from its stores to get you going for the day, the insulin your pancreas secretes in response to this can't do its job properly because the cells (especially the liver cells) have become resistant to it.

The more carbs we eat, the more insulin is needed, and the more insulin secreted, the worse insulin resistance becomes. The trick is to reduce the amount of insulin needed and the way to do that is to reduce carbs. Once your insulin resistance improves, so your morning levels will improve.

As you are waking to high levels, it makes sense not to increase those levels by eating carbs for breakfast. Fat is a good choice, either on its own or with protein, but zero carbs. Personally, a coffee with double cream does it for me, and lasts me until lunch time (except I do have a cup of tea mid morning)

If I were you, instead of stressing about it, stop testing your fasting levels for the time being. It isn't doing you any good and you aren't learning anything from it. Instead, concentrate on your before and after eating levels. Keep any increase from before to after as low as you can, and definitely lower than 2mmol/l. It will happen for you!
 
It is perfectly natural and not - from what I understand, a symptom of illness - If you have to run after your breakfast, or travel for miles to find it, you need a shot of glucose from your stores to provide the energy.
If you eat as soon as you get up and find out the amount of carbs to include which keeps you BG levels steadiest, then your liver will register the fact and stop putting out more glucose.
Your body has been provided with survival mechanisms by eons of development - it is only doing what would keep you alive in most circumstances. It has been doing much the same thing all your life, but now you know about it.
 
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