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Dawn phenomenon query

Philb69

Philb69

Well-Known Member
Messages
63
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi all
Can somebody help me with the dawn phenomenon. Pretty new to this and trying to learn. When i get up in the morning my bs is usually around the high 7 to 8 mark then comes down a little later. This morning i got up around 6.30 and was 8.5. Had a cup of tea with semi skimmed milk and 1 sweetex tab then had another one when i got to work. Just tested again without eating anything and i am now 10.5 which isn't good i know. Can it be the tea ?Can the dawn phenomenon happen at any time after waking or just at dawn?
I am trying to do my best with low carb but can't seem to get down to low levels. Usually around 7-8 befor meals then 8-9 after meals but the lowest i have ever been is about 6. Thank you
 
As I understand it
The body releases a number of hormones etc in the early hours which cause rise in blood sugars ( cortisol, growth hormone, glucose to name a few) this happens in all humans as a way of the body getting ready for the day ahead. In non diabetics enough insulin is produced / responded to in order to mop up the excess sugar but for us that regulatory system doesnt work so well.
Stress, illness, poor sleep etc apparently also cause some of the same things, cortisol and glucose in particular, to be released into the bloodstream at any time of day
Somewhat counter intuitively, some people find eating something before going to bed / immediately on waking halts the rise, some say fat based some say protein based. Some find morning exercise helps
 
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The dawn phenomenon can, and does, happen at any time of the day. If your body senses you need extra energy, whether it is to wake up and get up, or rush about getting ready for work, feeling stressed, exercising, fasting etc. the liver will provide this energy. In non diabetic healthy people the pancreas produces and drip feeds small amounts of insulin into the blood stream continuously throughout the day, 24 hours a day. This regulates matters and keeps glucose levels steady overnight and between meals. It is known as basal insulin. If our basal insulin isn't working as it should, this won't happen and our liver dumps cause higher BS levels.

https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/dealing-with-dawn-phenomenon-312515/

My personal experience is that I never have had a liver dump on rising. (even just after diagnosis it didn't happen) I am either flattish all night or I drop. I then discovered I do get a liver dump about 10 minutes after getting up which lasts almost all morning. I experimented with this and found it doesn't happen at all if I have a decaf coffee with double cream within that first 10 minutes of getting out of bed. It stops it completely. I believe it is the fat in the cream, and almost no carbs that has done it.
 
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My DP usually starts about the time I get up then, if I don't eat breakfast, it carries on rising until mid morning when it starts to slowly come back down. I can stop it from rising if I eat breakfast but it needs to be something reasonably substantial like eggs and bacon, or boiled eggs and Lidl high protein roll soldiers with butter on. A cup of coffee with cream doesn't work for me although it does slow the rise down a bit.

I have tried all kinds of things - exercise before going to bed, eating something before going to bed, eating nuts / chocolate / cheese on waking - anything I can think of really but I am slowly coming to terms with the idea that it is just my liver doing its job.

No, it isn't just in the mornings - I have also had 'DP' when I have been very stressed or, on one occasion, a massive DP when I was very nearly involved in a motorway pile up. It can also happen when you are feeling ill.
 
Thank you. I think the best thing to put it down to is **** happens and get on with it then.

Thanks again and I will try the coffee and the eating but it sounds like it will still happen just maybe slower.
 
He's a beautiful lad :)
 
Chook said:
My DP usually starts about the time I get up then, if I don't eat breakfast, it carries on rising until mid morning when it starts to slowly come back down. I can stop it from rising if I eat breakfast but it needs to be something reasonably substantial like eggs and bacon, or boiled eggs and Lidl high protein roll soldiers with butter on. A cup of coffee with cream doesn't work for me although it does slow the rise down a bit.

I have tried all kinds of things - exercise before going to bed, eating something before going to bed, eating nuts / chocolate / cheese on waking - anything I can think of really but I am slowly coming to terms with the idea that it is just my liver doing its job.

No, it isn't just in the mornings - I have also had 'DP' when I have been very stressed or, on one occasion, a massive DP when I was very nearly involved in a motorway pile up. It can also happen when you are feeling ill.
Click to expand...

I've found that if I have a couple of scrambled eggs (with a large glass of water ) which only take a few moments to cook, all is usually ok. I can cook and eat in 5 mins. If I have more time I'll add bacon / sausage tea etc .
 
OrsonKartt said:
I've found that if I have a couple of scrambled eggs (with a large glass of water ) which only take a few moments to cook, all is usually ok. I can cook and eat in 5 mins. If I have more time I'll add bacon / sausage tea etc .
Click to expand...
. If time is really really really tight a handful of nuts and water suffices.
 
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