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Waking BS

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Trisha66

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi everyone. I have had type 2 diabetes since 2016. After struggling to get my Hb1ac down my DN has added linagliptin to my medication 4x500mg Metformin and I feel as if I am getting better. However I am struggling with my morning reads which are usually about 14. I can't understand why it is so high as my BG before I go to sleep is usually between 7.5 and 9.
 
When do you test on a morning? ie. As soon as you wake up or maybe half an hor later after you have been to the loo and got dressed and made yourself a coffee etc.? There is something called Dawn Phenomenon or (Foot On The Floor Syndrome) which means that the liver starts pumping out glucose into the blood stream to give us energy to start the day. It is believed to be a throw back to prehistoric days before cupboards and fridges when we had to go out and hunt or forage for food. Unfortunately as diabetics, our pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin to deal with it, so our BG levels rise. Sometimes having a protein/fat snack at bedtime like a chunk of cheese or some cooked meat or a boiled egg with or without some mayonnaise can help to offset it.

It would be worth experimenting with when you test on a morning to see if this may be the case. I always test before I get out of bed because simply putting my feet on the floor will increase my levels by 1-2 mmols and it will continue to rise usually to a maximum of 6mmol increase if I don't inject insulin to deal with it. I am Type 1 and no longer produce any significant insulin so this is the only option for me, but as a Type2 your problem may be that your pancreas and liver are not talking to each other effectively.... perhaps due to fatty deposits.... so the pancreas may not be getting the message to produce insulin to deal with what the liver is making, but food hitting your stomach might trigger it into action. So if the bedtime snack doesn't fix it, you could try having a snack as soon as you wake up to try to stop it. The other option would be to do as nature intended and get out there for a long walk or run to burn it off... not always convenient and not many wooly mammoths out there to hunt down these days!!
 
rebrascora said:
When do you test on a morning? ie. As soon as you wake up or maybe half an hor later after you have been to the loo and got dressed and made yourself a coffee etc.? There is something called Dawn Phenomenon or (Foot On The Floor Syndrome) which means that the liver starts pumping out glucose into the blood stream to give us energy to start the day. It is believed to be a throw back to prehistoric days before cupboards and fridges when we had to go out and hunt or forage for food. Unfortunately as diabetics, our pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin to deal with it, so our BG levels rise. Sometimes having a protein/fat snack at bedtime like a chunk of cheese or some cooked meat or a boiled egg with or without some mayonnaise can help to offset it.

It would be worth experimenting with when you test on a morning to see if this may be the case. I always test before I get out of bed because simply putting my feet on the floor will increase my levels by 1-2 mmols and it will continue to rise usually to a maximum of 6mmol increase if I don't inject insulin to deal with it. I am Type 1 and no longer produce any significant insulin so this is the only option for me, but as a Type2 your problem may be that your pancreas and liver are not talking to each other effectively.... perhaps due to fatty deposits.... so the pancreas may not be getting the message to produce insulin to deal with what the liver is making, but food hitting your stomach might trigger it into action. So if the bedtime snack doesn't fix it, you could try having a snack as soon as you wake up to try to stop it. The other option would be to do as nature intended and get out there for a long walk or run to burn it off... not always convenient and not many wooly mammoths out there to hunt down these days!!
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That's a great response. I'll be out looking for mammoths and pterodactyls first thing. Shouldn't be too hard in central London 😉
 
Welcome to the forum @Trisha66

Yes that could well be your pesky liver up to its tricks I’m afraid. All part of the circadian rhythm and life’s rich pattern!

Good to hear that the changes you’ve made to your diabetes management seem to be improving things. Morning readings are often the last to come into line I think.
 
Clifton said:
That's a great response. I'll be out looking for mammoths and pterodactyls first thing. Shouldn't be too hard in central London 😉
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Weren't there hippos in Trafalgar Square?!
 
Far easier at home Clifton to simply break your fast - ie have summat to eat asap. Not your brekkie necessarily - grab a corner off the block of cheese, or half a slice of boiled ham, few slices of any other cooked meat, Italian sausage, whatever as long as it's protein.
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. I think I will just have to come to terms with the fact that it's just the way I am. I'm feeling healthier than I've done for a long time. And not stressing as much as I used to. Thank you all again. X
 
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