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Mornings and exercise

S

shadwell

Member
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I have been diagnosed as T2 for the last two years and whilst my BS control is generally good I always have very high BS in the mornings, anything between 10 and 15. I rarely eat after 7.30pm and follow a low carb diet. I also swim in the mornings but find my BS after exercise can then be anything up to 17. Although it always comes down again by lunchtime I am very concerned as to why I get such these morning spikes. I have read about the dawn phenomenon but is it usual for this to make such a big difference to my BS? And is it normal to have such a big increase after exercise? My GP hasn't been able to suggest any explanation etc. Can anyone give me any help/suggestions?

Thanks
 
The short answers to your question are yes and yes.

It sounds like you have a very strong dawn phenomenon. Your cortisol and other hormones are counteracting the insulin you are making at this time. Some people do get a rise in bs with exercise if they are relatively insulin deficient such as at this time of day and need to exercise at a different time.

Some folks even get an equivalent "dusk phenomenon".

Is your overall control otherwise okay?

Maybe you need additional medication. Low carbing certainly has a great effect on your post meal sugars but will have a lot less effect on your fasting bs. Metformin MR taken before bed can work well for dawn phenomenon but some people need to bite the bullet and go on a basal insulin such as lantus to solve the problem.
 
Thanks for the advice, my control is normally reasonably ok but could be better - usual bedtime reading is about 6. I've been exercising to try and lose weight and it's really frustrating that my BS readings are being pushed up because of the morning rise following exercise. Because of my job it's hard to exercise at a different time of the day as early mornings are generally the only time I have free but will persevere!
 
Sounds like the dawn phenomenon to me. I've heard that 50% of diabetics have it. What I'd like to know is why some people don't get it.

A more pleasant thing you can try is to have one or two measures of alcohol before bedtime eg red wine and cheese, whiskey and ice. Not bacardi breezers or anything sugary like that.

This reduces am blood sugars in some people - but not all.
 
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