Jump in Meter readings between night time and morning

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mcgoub

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Have Type 2 diabetes, and in process of a complete change of diet. Now eating wholemeal oat and barley bread, whole grain rice and pasta along with snacking on oat cakes/biscuits. My meat intake is mainly chicken with red meat once or twice a week. My treats are limited to pure heavenly 30g dark chocolate bars. My main question is I test myself last thing at night and 2 nights ago my meter reading was 6.2 - the following morning first thing it had jumped to 13.2 - so depressing. what can be done (if anything) to avoid such a jump.
Click to expand...
 

Dawn phenomenon - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Although not yet completely understood, the dawn phenomenon is thought to be caused by an exaggeration of the normal physiologic hormonal processes that occur overnight. Overnight the human body sees increased levels of several hormones, most notably growth hormone and catecholamines, that lead to increased rates of glucose production and release from the liver.
Click to expand...

Not sure what you can do. What medication are you on?

The wholegrain food is still very high in carbs, maybe try cutting those.

T2 diabetics tend to be more insulin resistant in the morning. Exercise might help.

What was your hba1c?
 
Last edited:
If you get something unexpected like that then make sure you have washed your hands and recheck as you could have had something on your fingers or maybe a dodgy strip.
 
Thanks for the tip - but I always wash hands before testing and it happens to often for it to be a fault in test strips.
 
Not enough info there for me at least to be able to suggest anything whatever. How long have you had Type 2 diabetes, what medication you take (for diabetes and anything else) and describe a typical day in your life, including what you do and what you eat - if you're retired, whether you take any exercise and if so what .........
 
What do you have for breakfast?
Dawn Phenomenon coupled with a high carb breakfast can cause levels to rise, and these can persist for quite a long time.
 
trophywench said:
2 x Not enough info there for me at least to be able to suggest anything whatever. How long have you had Type 2 diabetes, what medication you take (for diabetes and anything else) and describe a typical day in your life, including what you do and what you eat - if you're retired, whether you take any exercise and if so what .........
Click to expand...
Was diagnosed just over 7 years ago. Am currently taking on a daily basis Metformin 4 x 500mg ; Gliclazide 2x 80mg along with 5mg Rosuvastatin and 5mg Amlodipine. A typical day would involve a one hour walk, supermarket shopping and lunch once a week. Breakfast will consist of either 2 slice of oat and bran toast with either tuna or banana topping. Lunch would typically be 2 slice of oat and bran toast topped with scrambled egg and salmon. dinner would vary between a chicken and mushroom stir fry with wholegrain rice or fish and salad. Snacking is between dark chocolate and Nairn oatcakes. I am a retired male aged 69.
 
harbottle said:
What do you have for breakfast?
Dawn Phenomenon coupled with a high carb breakfast can cause levels to rise, and these can persist for quite a long time.
Click to expand...
I always test myself before having any breakfast
 
Most of your meal items seem good but I wonder if you are particularly sensitive to the bread you are having and combining that with a high carb banana and then rice later in the day.
As you have a monitor you could check out those meals by testing before you eat and after 2 hours and see if the increase is more than 2-3mmol/l.
You are having quite a bit of oral medication and on the face of it not too many high carb foods.
Have you had a recent HbA1C as if that is high that could indicate a systemic issue rather than some individual readings useful though they are.
How long after getting up do you test, if it is a while then try testing whilst still in bed as your evening reading doesn't seem too bad.
 
Are you actually still producing enough insulin yourself, to be of any use to you?
 
Sorry to read you are getting big overnight rises in your levels despite working hard to manage your diabetes :(

It could well be the dawn phenomenon which is hiking up your levels in the early hours - you may want to set an alarm for 2-3am to check what your levels are overnight. 3am is often the time when glucose levels dip to their lowest before the body begins to fire up the burners for the day ahead.

Some people find a lowish carb late night snack (eg a cracker and some cheese - the cheese will delay digestion over a longer period) can help keep their livers calm overnight?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top