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T2: Managing dawn phenomenon with diet and exercise?

georgianakate

georgianakate

Well-Known Member
Messages
64
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi all,

So, 1 month in post diagnosis of T2 I have been happily testing BS levels with my CodeFree monitor and gradually getting them to settle in the high 5s - low 6 range through a VLCHF diet and a bit more exercise than before.

But - my fasting glucose is (all other things being equal) the highest of the day - at somewhere between 7.5 - 7.9. I don't think that this is horribly bad, but given that my BS before bed is usually lower than this, I think this means dawn phenomenon. It comes down pretty well after breakfast at 6am (bacon, bacon, bacon) - usually hitting 5.5 or so by 12 when I have my lunch.

Everything I've read about DP suggests tweaking medication - but I'm on Diet and Exercise (and would like to stay that way).

Does anyone have any tips please?

Many thanks
GK

Diagnosis HBa1C: 56, 54 (test was repeated).
12lbs lost over the last two months with VLCHF ;-), 88lbs to go...
 
I don't think u have to take it so seriously....key issue is....does it drop.....yes....is your hb1ac values ok....yes. Then u will be ok.
Important is that your body is doing something about the high bg in the morning. If it did not come down after then u have to consider medication.
 
I'd also suggest another possibility - occult/hidden infection. I got bitten by this recently and still no definitive answer as to where the infection was.

Since January my fasting BG has crept up and up from my usual low 6's to 7's and then 8's - I was horrified one morning to find it was 8.8.

I saw my GP about it and was tested for a UTI (my original diabetes diagnosis had a 'silent' UTI attached), but no infection found though a blood test was showing elevated ESR - plus my A1c was exactly the same as the one I had done in September.

Along with the higher Fasting BG, I was taking longer and longer to return to pre-meal readings after eating. Also my lowest level of the day usually occurred after my morning walk, but that stopped having any effect as well. All in all, I was starting to freak out and wondering whether it was time to see the endo and start talking medications.

I also had a real shock to find that after years of no fillings required, I was suddenly getting cavities. Ended up having 2 teeth extracted because they had rotted away under old crowns. Still, the BG was high and I was starting to get infected hair follicles in my armpits, I assume because of the extended amount of time at higher levels.

Then I woke up to another aching tooth and could feel a lump in the gum - saw the dentist and although he couldn't see an abscess in the x-rays, he decided to give me a course of antibiotics to try and head off a possible infection and to cover me until he could fix 2 areas of decay in the aching tooth (and the one next to it).

The amazing part was that after taking just 2 of the antibiotic capsules, the next morning my BG was back to low 6's and continued at that level with only one FBG above 7 and the lowest has been 5.5.

I've finished the antibiotics, plus had the teeth filled, and so far so good - my fasting level ranges from 5.5 to 6.3.

Just something to keep in mind besides dawn phenomenon, especially if you have a slow creep upwards. Lesson learned - I won't wait as long if it happens again.
 
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