Type 2 and have a question

[Linda355]

Hi all.
Was diagnosed a month ago and have managed to get my bg levels down from 26 to (mostly) single figures with Gliclazide and keeping an eye on carb levels.
The main thing concerning me atm is the way my bg levels sometimes go up overnight. Not every night either. For example my bedtime reading last night was 6.6 and it went up to 8.9 before breakfast this morning Is this normal? Should I be doing anything to prevent this?
Thank you for any input on this.
Linda

 

[eggyg]

Welcome Linda. Unfortunately you have come across the diabetic’s nemesis. Dawn phenomenon, ie your liver decides to give you a load of glucose to help you get through the day. Also known as “ foot on the floor syndrome”. There really isn’t anything to prevent this and unless your readings are really, really high I wouldn’t be too concerned. Do your BGs go back to your normal after breakfast? Well done by the way from getting into single figures in such a short time, don’t let the morning pest put you off your stride, you are doing nothing wrong. 🙂

 

[Amigo]

Hi all.
Was diagnosed a month ago and have managed to get my bg levels down from 26 to (mostly) single figures with Gliclazide and keeping an eye on carb levels.
The main thing concerning me atm is the way my bg levels sometimes go up overnight. Not every night either. For example my bedtime reading last night was 6.6 and it went up to 8.9 before breakfast this morning Is this normal? Should I be doing anything to prevent this?
Thank you for any input on this.
Linda

After 3 years, I still get the Dawn Phenomenon Linda and my waking levels are usually higher than after breakfast. Just keep on doing what you’re doing and be aware of not having anything too carby mid evening. It’s what I eat after about 5/6pm that seems to impact my waking figure. Good luck!

I’ve found this explanation helpful;

https://idmprogram.com/dawn-phenomenon-t2d-8/

 

[trophywench]

For info - if you weren't diabetic the normal rise overnight is actually 2-ish, but can be in a range around 2.

If it's much more than that, then there are ways that might get around it, however, a normal person's BG is at it's lowest around 2.30 to 3am so the question to answer first is what is it before bed, how low is it at it's lowest, and what is it on rising. You need to go to bed, sleep, then set the alarm to wake you at 3-ish and test, then go back to sleep and test again as soon as you wake up as per normal (before you put a foot on the floor) otherwise it isn't really a 'fasting' BG - and see how the numbers all compare.

 

[Linda355]

Thanks so much for your replies. That's really helpful. I'll try the testing at 3am and looking at what I've eaten the evening before It does seem to sort itself out during the day so won't worry too much.
Thanks again. Sure this won't be the last time I get help on the forum!

 

[CathyB]

Hi Linda, I was diagnosed just a few weeks before you and also struggled for a while with similar numbers, it drove me crazy as I felt I was doing as much as I could with diet changes and metformin, each morning I would hold my breath as I took my reading and then feel so disappointed when it was higher than I felt it should.

Are you on any medication? If so it can take time for it to kick in fully. Whatever you do, don’t let this get you down, it is early days and sounds like you have done really well in a month. Something I did was keep a food diary for a couple of weeks and noted when I went for a walk and when I didn’t, I was able to see some patterns with certain foods and the time I was eating/ walking.

 

[Grannylorraine]

Welcome Linda I have the same issue my waking bg is quite often my highest of the day.