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BG levels have a mind of their own

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Ipsi

Ipsi

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
So, I've changed meds, changed meal times, changed routines, changed diet but always, always, my BG is highest in the morning then consistently drops throughout the day. Sometimes it's 9.5 in the morning, sometimes it's 6.9 in the morning (averages about 8.6) then it drops and drops and it's usually about 6 for the afternoon and at bedtime. It bips a bit after meals but never gets back up to the morning value.

When I was at haba1c of 88 it followed exactly the same pattern, just with higher (significantly) values.

It really has no effect, whatever I change. I even tried eating two sandwiches (four slices of bread) to alter it in the afternoon. Maybe 0.3 difference over my usual food but easily within what it could have been anyway.

What's going on? Should I just stop sleeping?

I'd like to hear from others with similar (or different) weird patters in their BG levels, maybe we can come up with something...
 
Ipsi said:
So, I've changed meds, changed meal times, changed routines, changed diet but always, always, my BG is highest in the morning then consistently drops throughout the day. Sometimes it's 9.5 in the morning, sometimes it's 6.9 in the morning (averages about 8.6) then it drops and drops and it's usually about 6 for the afternoon and at bedtime. It bips a bit after meals but never gets back up to the morning value.

When I was at haba1c of 88 it followed exactly the same pattern, just with higher (significantly) values.

It really has no effect, whatever I change. I even tried eating two sandwiches (four slices of bread) to alter it in the afternoon. Maybe 0.3 difference over my usual food but easily within what it could have been anyway.

What's going on? Should I just stop sleeping?

I'd like to hear from others with similar (or different) weird patters in their BG levels, maybe we can come up with something...
Click to expand...
What you at experiencing is probably what's known as the Dawn Phenomenon. The liver starts chucking out glucose in the early hours, or sometimes when you get out of bed ( sometimes referred to as Feet Hit the Floor syndrome) to prepare for the coming day. It affects both type 1s and Type 2s.
As Grovesy says, put Dawn Phenomenon into the search box at the top of the page, and you'll find plenty of material, but probably not a solution!
 
Yep, sounds like dawn phenomena, happens to me too.
 
Have you tried a protein snack before bed?
 
Happens to me too - consistently between 7 & 8 every morning and then drops throughout the morning.
Being more insulin resistant in the mornings doesn't help either, so generally I'll avoid carbs and have egg & bacon or something non carby for breakfast, or miss it altogether and have a snack about 10o'clock. Doesn't seem to make any difference what I eat etc the night before :(
 
The only thing that keeps my morning levels from rising is a couple of glasses of red wine with my evening meal (I only do this at weekends, though!)
 
Happens to me as well, highest figure is always in the morning, DN called it a fancy name, but when she explained it, it is what is know as Dawn Phenomenon.
 
@Ipsi
When do you test your morning bgl?
The best time to test your waking bgl is BEFORE you get out of bed - whether you need to pee or not😱 Once your feet hit the floor your BG will begin to elevate.
Just remember to keep your test kit by your bedside for the next mornings test.
 
wirralass said:
@Ipsi
When do you test your morning bgl?
The best time to test your waking bgl is BEFORE you get out of bed - whether you need to pee or not😱 Once your feet hit the floor your BG will begin to elevate.
Just remember to keep your test kit by your bedside for the next mornings test.
Click to expand...
That is interesting as I usually test after I have had my shower. New plan for tomorrow test before I get out of bed.
 
Grannylorraine said:
That is interesting as I usually test after I have had my shower. New plan for tomorrow test before I get out of bed.
Click to expand...
Good luck Lorraine - hope you see lower waking bgls by testing this way - just don't eat a slice of apple pie before going to bed!!! Haha! x
WL
 
wirralass said:
Good luck Lorraine - hope you see lower waking bgls by testing this way - just don't eat a slice of apple pie before going to bed!!! Haha! x
WL
Click to expand...
Also my last test at night is when I've been in bed for about 15mins - mine are usually low, sometimes in the 4's unless I've given in to a late snack before going to bed usually a protein bar 🙄 x
WL
 
Hi. My guess is DP too. A non carb snack before bed may help.
Another thought is ,depending on your D meds , could you be having hypo's during the night and your liver is sorting them out for you.

Testing your BGs around 3am when levels are often at their lowest may start to shed some light on what's happening.
 
I used to get ridiculous DP on Lantus, but it has virtually disappeared with split dose Levemir and a bit of dose tweaking. Without that, I could wake up on 6 after a steady night, without eating anything, I could be 12 two hours later. Now, waking on 6 I will still be 6-7 two hours later.
 
Thanks to all. I've got my meds changed to two 500mg Metformin slow release and, taking one with my evening meal has reduced the morning high quite a bit. Although, I'm guessing because my bg was lower and I wasn't used to it, I did get a couple of rubbish nights sleep at first. The great thing is that I can control to two meals a day now - I never did enjoy breakfast!
 
A friend mentioned the hypos at night thing and I cut out the night-time glyclazide completely, then told the doc, as it was having no effect on my overall levels over the day, probably because of night-time hypos. The Metformin slow release seems to be doing the trick nicely. I'm at hba1c of 42 and my levels are still dropping. I was 8.2 this morning, now at 6.2 and that's a big enough drop to make a difference. Got another hba1c coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm hoping for a sub 42. Can't get off the meds, yet, but I'm trying to head in that direction..
 
ipsi so pleased for you that the change in medication & dose is obviously working for you - less worry for you now 🙂 HbA1c of 42 is excellent - well done - and you managed to reduce this mornings bgl of 8.2 to 6.2 which is a very good & satisfactory number - keep doing what you are doing ipsi as it's working for you hun, take care. x
WL
 
Thanks wirralass, though I meant 6.2 at time of posting, 8.2 in the morning. The good thing is that 8.2 is about the highest readings I'm getting now and I can spend large parts of the day in a "normal" range and, most of the time, be under 8. I never seem to get below 6.0, but I suppose that's fine.

Coming from an hba1c of 88 just about three months ago and regularly spending all day between 12 and 15 and being on 1500mg Metformin and, for a couple poof weeks 160mg of Gliclazide a day to the current levels of meds and bg, I'm a happy diabetic.

I really am trying to push this as hard as I can to get into remission, I may fail but not for want of trying.
 
That's a big improvement, well done you've obviously worked hard.
 
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