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high readings first thing
- Thread starter ally1
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alliebee
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I think we are on the same path Ally. I've been lchf for just over 2 weeks and although my daytime readings are coming down my morning readings are high. 8 10 or 13...its the dawn liver dump your liver releases stored glucose to get you up and about..I always have breakfast soon after rising or else my readings go up and up...apparently as we lose weight and eat much fewer carbs this morning high will improve
Bluetit1802
Legend
Do you test immediately you go to bed Ally? That might be an idea if you don't, so you can see if your levels are rising during the night
Bluetit1802
Legend
Yes, try testing the very last thing you do before falling in to bed.
In the morning try testing immediately you get up (after washing hands) because pottering about for 10 minutes might not be helping you.
Bluetit1802
Legend
OK Ally, over night your rise was about 2mmol/l. This means you probably had a liver dump before you got out of bed. There is really nothing you can do about this. It is a natural thing that can happen to anyone, diabetics or not. After fasting our livers think we need extra energy to get us up and moving so they dump glucose into our system. You need to give your liver a good talking to!
Another reason could be too much protein too late in the evening, or a late night snack.
Another reason could be too much protein too late in the evening, or a late night snack.
im having exactly same issue 
. Newly diagnosed T1, still trying to get BG under control, so readings are still high, but my readings last night and this morning :-
21:30 16.7
01:38 9.1
04:20 8.3
10:20 12.7
last thing to eat was at 18:30, approx 40 carbs
. Newly diagnosed T1, still trying to get BG under control, so readings are still high, but my readings last night and this morning :-21:30 16.7
01:38 9.1
04:20 8.3
10:20 12.7
last thing to eat was at 18:30, approx 40 carbs
diamondnostril
Well-Known Member
When I was on a basic Low-Carb diet, I was very frustrated by the frequent high blood-sugar levels, particularly in the mornings. I eventually realised that my Protein intake was too high, and addressed this.
When I amended my diet to a truly Ketogenic/LCHF style (Low-Carb and no more than adequate Protein) these high levels, and Dawn Phenomenon, just disappeared. I am a sample size of one so maybe my experience/interpretation doesn't apply across-the-board, but I think that the basic biology backs up my experience.
The standard early-morning "liver dump", or Dawn Phenomenon, is via Gluconeogenesis - the breakdown of Glycogen in the liver into Glucose.
If you limit the amount of Glycogen by limiting the intake of Carbs and Protein, then the body has limited resources for Gluconeogenesis.
My interpretation of my own experience is that the body is careful to maintain a basic level of Glycogen in the liver, because Glucose may always be needed anytime for an emergency fight-or-flight situation.
In the case of a limited amount of Glycogen, the body will not waste this resource on the simple act of getting up in the morning.
In the case of plenty of Glycogen (and the body being trained that there will always be plenty more on the way soon) then the body will use this resource more liberally.
In my current Ketogenic/LCHF diet plan I keep to a daily limit of no more than 1g Protein for each 1 Kilo of my ideal body weight. This was mentioned in more than one of the books that I read on the Keto diet. When sticking to this, for me the Dawn Phenomenon never happens. For what it's worth, I interpret this as described above.
Excess Carbs and Protein that the body does not need immediately for energy or repair go to the liver to be stored as Glycogen (until the liver is full).
Regards,
Antony
When I amended my diet to a truly Ketogenic/LCHF style (Low-Carb and no more than adequate Protein) these high levels, and Dawn Phenomenon, just disappeared. I am a sample size of one so maybe my experience/interpretation doesn't apply across-the-board, but I think that the basic biology backs up my experience.
The standard early-morning "liver dump", or Dawn Phenomenon, is via Gluconeogenesis - the breakdown of Glycogen in the liver into Glucose.
If you limit the amount of Glycogen by limiting the intake of Carbs and Protein, then the body has limited resources for Gluconeogenesis.
My interpretation of my own experience is that the body is careful to maintain a basic level of Glycogen in the liver, because Glucose may always be needed anytime for an emergency fight-or-flight situation.
In the case of a limited amount of Glycogen, the body will not waste this resource on the simple act of getting up in the morning.
In the case of plenty of Glycogen (and the body being trained that there will always be plenty more on the way soon) then the body will use this resource more liberally.
In my current Ketogenic/LCHF diet plan I keep to a daily limit of no more than 1g Protein for each 1 Kilo of my ideal body weight. This was mentioned in more than one of the books that I read on the Keto diet. When sticking to this, for me the Dawn Phenomenon never happens. For what it's worth, I interpret this as described above.
Excess Carbs and Protein that the body does not need immediately for energy or repair go to the liver to be stored as Glycogen (until the liver is full).
Regards,
Antony
alliebee
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Thankyou for posting this Antony...its exactly what @Spiker has been warning me about.. initially I thought great!!! A free fest on steaks roast meats cheese eggs...my protein was just too high. I cut back protein two days ago...increased my healthy fats. Within 24 hours I dropped back into ketosis (I could Feel it!). And not just my fasting levels dropping like a stone I'm also losing weight of approx half a pound a day....mind you I know this won't last. I have a stone to lose...I just feel so well...lots of energy. Happier and best of all bgs are so so much better
Yorksman
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Your BG levels are up and down all the time. The glucose is used for several things but the biggest demand is from the brain. You can live without food or water for days but your body will always make some more glucose if you don't eat any carbohydrates. If it didn't you'd go into a coma.
At night, whilst asleep, you are still burning fuel and your liver will top up your blood glucose supply. Normally, your pancreas then produces insulin to bring this glucose back down to a safe level but in type 2 diabetics, this process doesn't work correctly. The result is, the BG level goes up, but doen't come down quickly. It should normally drop 2 to 3 points in 30 to 60 mins. The problem diabetics have when it takes a few hours to drop back to normal is that they eat another meal before it has come down. Then it goes high again and the cycle repeats itself.
Test yourself when you get up then test again after 30 mins and then again after 60 mins. do this without eating anything. It will give you an idea of how slowly or quickly your insulin response and insulin sensitivity gets you down again.
At night, whilst asleep, you are still burning fuel and your liver will top up your blood glucose supply. Normally, your pancreas then produces insulin to bring this glucose back down to a safe level but in type 2 diabetics, this process doesn't work correctly. The result is, the BG level goes up, but doen't come down quickly. It should normally drop 2 to 3 points in 30 to 60 mins. The problem diabetics have when it takes a few hours to drop back to normal is that they eat another meal before it has come down. Then it goes high again and the cycle repeats itself.
Test yourself when you get up then test again after 30 mins and then again after 60 mins. do this without eating anything. It will give you an idea of how slowly or quickly your insulin response and insulin sensitivity gets you down again.
donnellysdogs
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My hubby (not diabetic like me) consistentl lost up to a1lb everyday when he cut the protein and ate more fats.
This was after he had stalled at his 2stone initial loss.
He lost 4 stone in total, 2 stone by just cutting food qty and increasing activity. He then totally stalled. He lost the last two stone consistently by lchf and monitoring protein.
The other thing that was really noticeable was the qty of sleep. When he works early shifts for 4 weeks in a row his weighloss would be neglible (about 1/2lb) each morning after 5-6 hours sleep. When having a full 8 hrs sleep on pm shifts for 4 weeks in a row that made the huge loss of a full lb a day.
For both shift patterns he still ate the same foods and the same exercise. The only difference being his lack of sleep that was the difference in actually shedding 1/2lb or a lb daily.
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