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Higher waking BG

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belinda_b

Well-Known Member
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48
Can anyone tell me why my waking BG (6 at the mo) is higher than my bedtime one (around 5.4-6)? This was the case when my Bg was much higher too.
 
Belinda,

It could be Dawn Phenomenon. This is where the liver very kindly dumps glucose into the system in the early hours. Members have reported success by having a small carb-free snack before retiring.

Regards, Tubs.
 
Thank for that...I've read it, now I just have to work out how to lower it. I think because I've only been on a low carb diet for a week, I'll give it another week to see how it goes and if there isn't any change then I'll have to tackle it. I did mention it to my GP on a few occasions but was told it wasn't anything to worry about and that "you get that"! But now I'm finally getting to grips with my diabetes, I can't leave one bit out!
 
As Tubs said,a small ,snack at bedtime sometimes sorts this.I like nuts personally.(just wait for the comments! :lol: :lol: )
 
Predictable, I know !!

Sue.

I am sure you have impeccable taste in all things.............Well, maybe there are one or two areas where nuts may ring a bell ? ...so to speak. :evil:


:lol:
 
I've tried several "remedies" for Dawn Phenomenon, but none has worked so far. I am most susceptible if I go to bed at below 5. That makes sense. Last night I had a piece( just one) of dark chocolate before bed and hit 6. I was back down to 5.2 this morning. I am trying ( when not having chocolate) to get down below 5 for fasting and finding it VERY difficult.
 
I suppose it's trial and error....I'm reluctant to eat before I go to bed, mainly because I don't anyway, but if I'll put it on the list of things to try if needs be. I have noticed that a good night's sleep results in higher BG in the morning
 
cugila said:
Predictable, I know !!

Sue.

I am sure you have impeccable taste in all things.............Well, maybe there are one or two areas where nuts may ring a bell ? ...so to speak. :evil:


:lol:
Click to expand...

There are a few on this forum ,Ken. :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
I had the same problem but found that a couple of Ryvita with a slice of cheddar cheese an hour before bedtime seemed to do the trick. Most mornings my numbers went from 7 or so down to 6 at 0700.
I am lucky that I can have a swim whenever I wish. I find that if I measure at 0630, before a swim, it is around 7, after 20 mins fairly vigorous swimming the numbers are around 5.5.
Diet and exercise are the answer!
 
rubik101 said:
I had the same problem but found that a couple of Ryvita with a slice of cheddar cheese an hour before bedtime seemed to do the trick. Most mornings my numbers went from 7 or so down to 6 at 0700.
I am lucky that I can have a swim whenever I wish. I find that if I measure at 0630, before a swim, it is around 7, after 20 mins fairly vigorous swimming the numbers are around 5.5.
Diet and exercise are the answer!
Click to expand...

Some of us need to be careful with that, too much exertion in the morning is actually likely to shoot my BG up, which doesn't happen later in the day.
 
Yes that's something I've noticed too....to lose weight I've been exercising before breakfast and my BG and BP rise quite quickly. Maybe eating first then exercising an hour later would be better.
 
I don't find there's much of a difference in training before or after breakfast but I do prefer to eat first and then let my insulin have about an hour to get into the food. Generally speaking, a short burst of exercise should increase your blood glucose reading but this is really dependent on you. However, in response to the original question my waking glucose has always been dependent upon the amount of Levemir I've taken; too little and my reading's high, too much and I hypo but if I get it just right then I'll come downstairs to eat my favourite porridge oats and natural yoghurt but Goldilocks will have eaten it!
 
I didn't mean to imply that everyone should exercise first thing in the morning. But I have been checking pre and post swim numbers on a random basis and they always show a reduction of between 1.2 to 1.6.
I didn't know that exercise might raise the BG numbers. I will monitor it more regularly now!
 
sugarless sue said:
I like nuts personally.(just wait for the comments!
Click to expand...

far be it from me to make any comments Sue I'm not like that at all.
(I'll just give you a wide berth in the evenings :lol: :lol: )

I've found a spoonful of peanut butter sometimes works for me :)
 
rubik101 said:
I didn't mean to imply that everyone should exercise first thing in the morning.
Click to expand...

We know that, you just wanted to make us all jealous about your access to a swimming pool :lol:

(I am not jealous, I am not jealous, I am not jealous, s*d it yes I am :) )
 
IMO this can all vary a lot between individuals, you have to learn your specific patterns.

For example I don't *normally* do Dawn Phenomenon. Overexerting myself in the morning would tend to produce a liver dump high whereas in the afternoon my liver would tend not to react and happily let me work myself into a hypo.

Exercising immediately after eating, while my self-generated insulin is at maximum output, is a good plan for coping with overcarbing, but again it can drive me almost to hypo levels if I've eaten my normal meals. Waiting an hour or two when the insulin has ramped down again and I don't get nearly so much of a BG drop from the same amount of exertion.

Over time my system has become a lot more responsive (reduced IR and a better dietary balance of fats and protein for fuel) but there are specific times and specific circumstances where I need to be more vigilant than others.

http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2009/ ... -high.html
 
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