Dawn phenomenon and poor sleep

[Lakeslover]

Hi,

I am type 2 and at the beginning of March decided to try the libre 2 to improve my control (currently on metformin (1000mg bd), Glicazide (160mg morning, 80mg evening) and sitagliptin). The libre is predicting HbA1c at 5.3 although I think the first couple of sensors under recorded glucose levels).

I quickly discovered I suffer from Dawn phenomenon with a fasting BS between 4.5 and 5.5 just before getting up, rising to around 7.5 to 8.5 within 15 minutes. I am following a low carb diet with approx 30g carbs a day, mostly from vegetables.

this morning after a low carb meal last night, a very poor nights sleep (following a mild hypo down to 3.3 around 10pm) my blood sugar was 5.1 at 3.30, 7.3 at 7am just before getting up and rapidly rose to 9.7 at 9am, still 7.6 at 11am.

my breakfast was Greek yoghurt and 5 walnut halves which usually has no impact on my blood sugar.

So I have two questions really.

Does poor sleep make the dawn phenomenon worse?

is there anything I can actually do to improve Dawn phenomenon, other than carrying on with the low carb?

 

[Brunneria]

So I have two questions really.

Does poor sleep make the dawn phenomenon worse?

is there anything I can actually do to improve Dawn phenomenon, other than carrying on with the low carb?

Yes, poor sleep can make a big difference.

I have discovered (by various self experiments wearing a Libre) that my Blood glucose rises until I eat. If that breakfast contains carbs (eg yog and berries) then my bg just keeps climbing. However, if my breakfast is protein and fat, not carbs, then my bg stops rising and drops to its normal (non DP) levels.

further experiments showed that a few cashews, or an oz of cheese, is sufficient to stop my bg rising between waking and breakfasting. Or lunching, if I am skipping brekkie.

of course, your body may respond differently.

 

[KennyA]

Poor sleep has consistently gone along with higher BG mornng readings for me. I'm not sure it definitely follows that poor sleep causes higher readings, both might be caused by another factor or factors.

 

[Lakeslover]

Yes, poor sleep can make a big difference.

I have discovered (by various self experiments wearing a Libre) that my Blood glucose rises until I eat. If that breakfast contains carbs (eg yog and berries) then my bg just keeps climbing. However, if my breakfast is protein and fat, not carbs, then my bg stops rising and drops to its normal (non DP) levels.

further experiments showed that a few cashews, or an oz of cheese, is sufficient to stop my bg rising between waking and breakfasting. Or lunching, if I am skipping brekkie.

of course, your body may respond differently.

thank you. It helps to know I’m not the only one. I have a very small amount of yoghurt which was just 4g carbs this morning. But I’ll try the cheese instead and see if that makes a difference.

 

[woollygal]

Having started using the libre a week ago it’s very obvious I have a big dawn phenomenon problem.
Even if I get up and drink some cream they will continue to rise. Because they are already on the way to 9 by the time I eat breakfast which is carb free they hit the 10s.
I can’t figure out if they rise because I wake up or if the rise wakes me up. But the rise happens at the same kind of time as me waking, even if I’m not actually awake.

 

[JoeHo]

I'm also trying to work out if I have dawn phenomenon. My fasting bg in the morning is higher than my bg the night before. Will definitely try monitoring with Libre 2.

 

[Lakeslover]

I definitely recommend trying the libre for better insight. I’m not sure if it’s still going but they did have a free 14 day trial on.

this morning my blood sugar was 4 at 4am, 6 at 8 am when I got up, I had a piece of cheese as suggested, then BS rapidly rising to 9 at 9am (lower than yesterday’s peak. It has also come down faster today with a reading of 5.7 at 11am.

so it’s cheese for breakfast again tomorrow! Or maybe hard boiled egg.

 

[JoeHo]

I just received a trial libre sensor!

I'm doing low carb omad (lunch to lunch) so the high fasting bg reading in the morning is quite confusing.

The libre should help me understand what my bg is doing overnight.