• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Dawn phenomenon in non- diabetics

stoomc

Active Member
Messages
28
Hi all,

I am a bit paranoid at the moment. I have recently been to the Drs for full blood tests etc and any form of diabetes has been ruled out.
However, I have also been using a monitor at home and I am slightly confused by something...

First of all, my levels have always been good (I haven't actually seen it over 5.2)
Anyway, I ate loads of carbs last night and checked it at 1 and 2 hours and the highest it went up to was 5.0 (it was 4.2 beforehand) however, when I woke up this morning my level was 5.2.
The past few mornings my blood sugar was higher in the mornings than it is later in the day (I will note again though, that it is always in the normal range, but it's always the highest readings nonetheless!)
I have been advised that dawn phenomenon doesn't happen in non- diabetics, so I'm wondering what on earth is going on? Is a little bit higher than bed normal?

Any advice for this paranoid person would be highly appreciated!
 
Who ever told you the DP only manifest itself in people with diabetes is completely misinformed.
Its the old fight or flight response to waking up and has been with us since we came down from the trees.

I suggest you put the meter away and stop worrying about something that is a normal occurrence.
 
Those readings are spot on for a non diabetic. Diabetics suffer from dawn phenomenon as they can't process the extra sugar being secreted from rising cortisol levels which all people have in the morning. With diabetics unless on a pump, not much can be done as if enough long acting insulin is used for the dawn phenomonan it would usually result in a hypo before and after. Even in a non diabetic during early hours cortisol is produced resulting in a slight increase in sugar from overnight most of which is used by the body but not quite all of it to give them energy to get up and ready for the day.

Hope this had helped

Sent from my GT-S5360 using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Hobs said:
Who ever told you the DP only manifest itself in people with diabetes is completely misinformed.
Its the old fight or flight response to waking up and has been with us since we came down from the trees.

I suggest you put the meter away and stop worrying about something that is a normal occurrence.

people will always worry, and where best to get advice on levels when people are unsure of readings. Especially if there is a family history of auto immune disorders not necessarily diabetes.

Sent from my GT-S5360 using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Oh thank god.

I know how I sound, I do.
I seem to be going through an awful paranoid phase at the moment so I apologise for how I am coming across.
I can't even remember where I read it- I'm sure I read it on a few websites... I guess that's one of the downsides of the Internet.

Thanks for the messages!
 
No problem, and no need to apologise, glad it helped you to relax about that. :)

Sent from my GT-S5360 using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Back
Top