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Morning sugar high

D

Denisa

Member
Messages
17
Location
Southampton
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
My overall sugar control is quite good, Hba1c is down to 6.1 in December from 8.4 in August, Lost 3 stones in that time and feeling fine. However, my fasting sugar (before 6am when I am getting up) is usually high, around 6.8- 7.5, occasionally 8. This usually lowers to around 5.8 -6.3 by 10am and is in 5's in the afternoon. I am aware that this is happening due to dawn phenomenon. I am just wondering how dangerous these high morning level are for me. I am not on medication, controlling it through diet. I do not eat any high carb things in the evening, well not at all. I am trying to delay starting medication but not sure if I am not really harming myself.
 
Hi Denisa and well done on your improvement so far. Your morning "high" is not that bad really and it soon comes down. As you rightly say, probably down to the dawn phenomenon so not too much you can do to control this other than an early morning workout ? I would concentrate on keeping your HbA1C down in general rather than a small high first thing !
Mo
 
Hi....that's weird I was just wondering to myself the exact same thing!!....I was diagnosed on Monday, and started testing Wednesday......every morning the test before breakfast is higher. this morning it was 9.5?.and 2 hours after eating it was 10.4....I'm not on medication and trying to eat lower carb.and like you it's settled by lunch time... could someone tell me what dawn phenomenon is please?...am intrigued...thanks in advance..
 
My morning levels are always high I wondered if because I am under weight my liver has more reason to think I am starving to death in the morning ?
CAROL
 
Well done Mo:),
Must admit I never herd of dawn phenomenon until now,
This info for JaneW, Dawn phenomenon, sometimes called the dawn effect, is an early-morning (usually between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m.) increase in blood sugar (glucose) relevant to people withdiabetes. (found on Wikipedia)
:)
 
Denisa, when you say delay starting medication - what do you mean ? Is it something you believe to be inevitable ? I've just been diagnosed as type2 and have pretty much the same readings as you on a no/low carb diet. The high value in the mornings is a liver dump of glucose. I think it also happens if you don't eat enough during the day.
 
Wouldn't worry to much about it. It may get slightly better over time but I wake up somewhere between 5.5 & 6.5 two years down the line. If it bothers you just go for a 5 to 10 min brisk walk. I found that will knock it down quickly
 
Would a brisk walk not cause my liver to think I was mad as well as starving? I dont understand this dawn thing at all :(
CAROL
 
carty said:
Would a brisk walk not cause my liver to think I was mad as well as starving? I dont understand this dawn thing at all :(
CAROL
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That's the right attitude, seriously ! Lots of our bodily functions we have very little control over so don't waste your time worrying about it ! Concentrate on the things you are able to control, don't waste energy on things you can't !
Mo
 
carty said:
Would a brisk walk not cause my liver to think I was mad as well as starving? I dont understand this dawn thing at all :(
CAROL
Click to expand...

:) I use to do it after eating my Greek yoghurt and berries. Making your muscles move a bit makes them soak up the excess glucose. A nice hot bath would probably do much the same.
 
I find it best to avoid anything carby after 8pm, if I need a snack I have nuts or cheese, the main thing is if your BG is high is to limit the carbs at breakfast.
 
I have tried no carb at night some carb no alcohol some alcohol drink water dont drink water stand on your head in the corner dont stand on your head in the corner (sorry I lied about the last bit) but you get the message I have stopped doing a morning fasting test for the sake of sanity
CAROL
 
I found my sugar levels high in the mornings too. I worked out my sugar levels were crashing during the night so my liver was packing out glucose out to cope. Hence high readings at night. I've now started taking my meds before my evening meal instead which seems to have helped . I'm unsure why but it works for me?

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Thanks guys. I do walk uphill to work 30 mins every morning. When I said to "delay medication" - well, my GP tells me during every visit that my results are great, but I need to be prepared that I will not be able to control my diabetes with diet forever. And yeah, I have stopped to test in the morning, too depressing. Thanks for your support.
 
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