Hi, my name is Joy and I have just been diagnosed with type 2. I am on Metformin, have changed my diet to eliminate carbs, started to lose weight, increased my exercise and the amount of water I am drinking. I have been testping each morning and the general direction in downwards but after a particularly active day my levels seem to be up the next morning. I don’t understand this and would welcome any advice about where I am going wrong.
-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Hello
- Thread starter OhJoy
- Start date
- Status
Hi @OhJoy and welcome to the forum.
Who said you are doing anything wrong?
Higher fasting Blood Glucose levels in the morning is quite normal. There are 2 common forms of it, as to when it takes effect and for how long: ('Dawn Phenomenon' or 'Foot On Floor'). These are caused by your liver being 'helpful' and releasing some glucose into your bloodstream so that you will have enough energy to go and hunt/gather your breakfast like a cave person. We have not evolved since before the invention of fridges and supermarkets.
Rather than a fasting test (over which you have little to no control), many of us prefer to test meals. So, for example test your breakfast by BG test just before breakfast and again 2hrs after first bite. If the rise between the 2 tests is 2 mmol or less, then that meal was OK for your body. All our bodies tend to be different in the way they handle carbs, so you can't always go by what is OK for somebody else!
Breakfast time is when insulin resistance is often high and so it's the most critical meal to get right. Unfortunately most people's idea of a healthy breakfast (breakfast cereal or porridge and fruit juice) is anything but healthy for a Type 2 Diabetic; indeed what is healthy for a T2 Diabetic (such as bacon & eggs) would be considered unhealthy by many/most non-T2 diabetics!
Who said you are doing anything wrong?
Higher fasting Blood Glucose levels in the morning is quite normal. There are 2 common forms of it, as to when it takes effect and for how long: ('Dawn Phenomenon' or 'Foot On Floor'). These are caused by your liver being 'helpful' and releasing some glucose into your bloodstream so that you will have enough energy to go and hunt/gather your breakfast like a cave person. We have not evolved since before the invention of fridges and supermarkets.
Rather than a fasting test (over which you have little to no control), many of us prefer to test meals. So, for example test your breakfast by BG test just before breakfast and again 2hrs after first bite. If the rise between the 2 tests is 2 mmol or less, then that meal was OK for your body. All our bodies tend to be different in the way they handle carbs, so you can't always go by what is OK for somebody else!
Breakfast time is when insulin resistance is often high and so it's the most critical meal to get right. Unfortunately most people's idea of a healthy breakfast (breakfast cereal or porridge and fruit juice) is anything but healthy for a Type 2 Diabetic; indeed what is healthy for a T2 Diabetic (such as bacon & eggs) would be considered unhealthy by many/most non-T2 diabetics!
Thank you ianf0ster, that is really helpful and I will try testing before/after meals. It is very early days for me and I am still confused by many things. If my BG is high in the morning despite or because of the things I am doing how do I get it down?
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Once you get your meal increases to an acceptable level then you morning levels will start to trend down in time.
D
Deleted member 21371
Guest
It's just an effect of a low carb diet, your body stops responding as quickly to a rise in glucose, so the morning liver dump spikes you higher.
harbottle
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- In remission from Type 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Levels are high in the morning because the insulin resistance or lack of insulin means you can't handle the rise in blood sugar caused by the liver generating glucose in response to a rise of certain hormones. Non diabetics generate a small surge of insulin to counter this rise.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @OhJoy
Sounds like you’ve made some significant changes to try to manage your blood glucose levels. Well done on the weight loss, which should help to reduce insulin-resistance. 🙂
Sorry to hear you are having some higher BGs in the morning than you’d like. This is pretty common unfortunately, and they can be a bit stubborn I’m afraid - often being the last to come back into range as your levels generally improve.
Great to hear you are being more active too! Keep it up 🙂
Sounds like you’ve made some significant changes to try to manage your blood glucose levels. Well done on the weight loss, which should help to reduce insulin-resistance. 🙂
Sorry to hear you are having some higher BGs in the morning than you’d like. This is pretty common unfortunately, and they can be a bit stubborn I’m afraid - often being the last to come back into range as your levels generally improve.
Great to hear you are being more active too! Keep it up 🙂
- Status