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Type 2 Dawn Phenomenon

Boots54

Newbie
Messages
1
Location
Stockton on Tees
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Sport
Do members have any advice on how to avoid the dawn phenomenon. I regularly get readings of `10+ on waking in the morning. I am on Metformin 500mg x 2 daily (taken with food). Is there any way to avoid/ameliorate this sugar dump first thing in the morning?
 
Hi and welcome,

Do you know what your typical bedtime reading is?

The dawn phenomenon is a natural occurrence that happens to everyone on this planet. It is regulated by certain hormones that tell your liver you are in need of some extra energy to start your day, so the liver obliges and dumps glucose in your blood stream. In healthy non diabetics, the hormones then tell the pancreas to secrete insulin, which clears the glucose out of the blood stream into the cells. This system breaks down in those of us with T2 diabetes because our cells and liver are insulin resistant, so the insulin cannot work properly and takes a long time to clear the dumped glucose, and to make matters worse, the liver continues to dump.

Many people have tried many things to stop this happening to such a degree, and few are successful. You could try eating your evening meal a lot earlier, not snacking at all during the evening, and having some fats and protein without carbs as soon as possible after getting up and before any activities, such as showering. A coffee with double cream might help if you can't have a breakfast that soon. If you search the forums by using the search box you will find many threads about this.
 
Hi, and welcome!

How long have you had diabetes?
What was your HbA1c when diagnosed?
What was your most recent HbA1c?
What do you eat?
Do you exercise and how?
 
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