When managing diabetes, it is ideal to maintain morning blood glucose levels between 70 and 99 milligrams (mg/dl) per deciliter. However, people with diabetes often notice that their blood sugar levels are high in the early morning. These early-morning blood glucose spikes occur due to a relatively common event called the Dawn phenomenon, affecting about 50% of people living with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
If your morning glucose remains consistently higher than it should, it can have a major impact on your overall health. Therefore, it is important to manage the dawn phenomenon to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.
What is the phenomenon of dawn?
The dawn phenomenon is an increase in blood glucose levels that occur early in the morning, and there is also an extended dawn phenomenon, usually between 3am and 8am. Dawn phenomenon occurs in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in all age groups, including over 70 people with type 2 diabetes.
The dawn phenomenon of diabetes can raise blood sugar levels to potentially dangerous levels. Untreated hyperglycemia due to the dawn phenomenon can lead to increased A1C levels. A1C levels indicate the percentage of hemoglobin attached to glucose. This is an important tool for people with diabetes to manage their condition. The results are percentages, with higher percentages indicating higher average blood glucose levels. A regular A1C test can help you track how well your diabetes is controlled.
High levels of A1c due to the dawn phenomenon result in consistently increasing levels that have risen consistently, especially over several years. It may lead to.
- Diabetic retinopathy (over time, this can lead to vision problems and even blindness if left untreated)
- Nephropathy or damage to small blood vessels in the kidney
- Neuropathy
- Heart disease
summary
Dawn phenomenon occurring between 3am and 8am, accompanied by an increase in type 1 and type 2 blood glucose levels, affecting all age groups, including those over 70 years of age with type 2 diabetes. The expanded dawn phenomenon expands hyperglycemia into the late morning. Uncontrolled can lead to dangerous blood glucose levels, highlighting the need for management to prevent complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and heart disease.
Dawn phenomenon vs. Somogie effect
The dawn phenomenon and somogie effects are two common reasons why diabetics can wake up with hyperglycemia. Both involve hormone-triggered glucose production, but there are significant differences. The Somogyi effect is linked to late-night episodes of hypoglycemia, leading to early morning rises in glucose levels. However, the dawn phenomenon can occur without experiencing a hypoglycemic episode in the middle of the night.
The dawn phenomenon occurs when the body’s natural insulin secretion decreases, or when the effects of externally administered insulin from the previous day are reduced. It occurs with a natural increase in hormones that oppose insulin. The Somogyi effect includes nocturnal hypoglycemia levels, which encourages the body to respond and release excess glucose. This can lead to rising blood sugar levels and waking up in the morning.
Dawn phenomenon is more common than the somogyi effect. Although their insulin treatments vary, the most effective way to prevent both the dawn phenomenon and the somogie effect is to maintain optimal diabetes control through diet and exercise.
summary
The dawn phenomenon and somogie effects cause high morning blood sugar levels in diabetics. The Somogyi effect follows nighttime hypoglycemia, followed by increased morning glucose. Dawning phenomenon, unrelated to nocturne hypoglycemia, is accompanied by reduced insulin, hormonal changes, and higher morning glucose levels. It’s more common than somogyi. You can manage both with optimal diabetes control through insulin therapy, diet and exercise.
Symptoms of the dawn phenomenon
The main symptom of the dawn phenomenon is high morning blood glucose levels known as hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia occurs when blood glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL. When you wake up, you may experience the following symptoms, depending on how high your blood sugar level is:
- Increased Thirst: Polydipsia, or excessive thirst, is the unusual urge to continuously drink liquids, usually in response to the loss of fluids in the body. It may have dry mouth (Xerostomia).
- Frequent urination
- Haze
- I’m irritated
- Abdominal discomfort
- nausea
- Fatigue
summary
The dawn phenomenon is marked by high morning blood sugar levels known as hyperglycemia (over 180 mg/dL). The symptoms you awaken will vary depending on your blood sugar level, including thirst (polydipsia), frequent urination, blurred vision, hypersensitivity, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and fatigue.
Causes of the dawn phenomenon
During the usual early morning hours of 3am to 8am, the body releases a surge in cortisol and growth hormone. These hormones signal the liver and provide energy to wake up by increasing glucose production. This increase in glucose increases blood glucose levels. In people without diabetes, the pancreas releases enough insulin to control blood sugar. However, diabetes causes higher blood sugar levels during this period, as they are not producing enough insulin or the body does not respond well to it.
Externally administered insulin activity begins to decrease in the early hours of the morning (depending on the type of insulin and the route of administration). As a result, there is insufficient opposition to liver activity, leading to hyperglycemia. Patients with type 2 diabetes are more susceptible to early morning dysregulation of liver glucose production because they are unable to produce compensated insulin secretion.
summary
Between 3am and 8am, a surge in cortisol and growth hormone helps the liver promote glucose production for morning energy and raises blood glucose levels. Non-diabetic patients release enough insulin to regulate it. People with diabetes who are facing insulin or faced with face will experience an elevated blood sugar level. External insulin activity decreases early in the morning, but this is insufficient to combat liver activity and causes hyperglycemia.
Managing the dawn phenomenon
Dawning phenomenon is usually a persistent concern, so ignoring it or not treating it can cause consistent rise in blood glucose levels for several hours each day. This long-term rise can increase the risk of diabetes complications over time. To prevent or correct morning hyperglycemia, you can take the following steps:
Find out if there is a dawn phenomenon or somogyi effect
To determine the correct cause of waking up with high blood sugar, you should test your blood sugar several nights at 2am or 3am. If the levels are consistently low in the meantime, it is probably the somogyi effect. If the level is high, it may be a dawn phenomenon. Identifying the root cause can help doctors develop personalized plans to address the issue.
At thrivedailywellness, nutritionists take into consideration when developing individual preferences, lifestyles, and personalized diet plans. This approach ensures that the plan is realistic and sustainable for each individual.
Start diabetes conversion with thrivedailywellness
Track your blood sugar level
The main indicator of the dawn phenomenon is the rise in blood sugar levels in the morning. Therefore, in order to effectively manage this phenomenon, blood glucose levels need to be closely monitored. Tracking provides valuable insight into blood glucose levels at various times, including early morning rises. thrivedailywellness CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) can be used. It measures blood glucose levels throughout the day and provides real-time results with all your diet and training.
Regular testing is essential, but CGM effectively automates the process. The device works day and night, allowing you to easily track and monitor your blood sugar levels anytime, anywhere. What is a continuous glucose monitor?
Get cutting-edge, meticulously healthy CGMs here.
Avoid carbs around bedtime
Consuming carbohydrate-filled snacks and meals before bed can cause blood sugar levels to rise, which can exacerbate the effects of the dawn phenomenon. To prevent excessive glucose release at night, avoid most of the carbohydrate at dinner and distribute your carbohydrate intake evenly throughout the day.
To stabilize your blood sugar, consider having a small, balanced bedtime snack with complex carbohydrates and proteins. However, overeating can cause indigestion and can disrupt sleep. It is best to consume carbohydrates 1-4 hours before sleep, not just before going to bed. Also, avoid high sugar foods and drinks that are especially close to bedtime, as they can cause rapid blood sugar spikes.
exercise
Engaging in evening exercise can lower blood sugar levels, but be careful to avoid excessive tolerance, which can lead to nighttime hypoglycemia. Choose light physical activities such as walking or yoga. If your morning glucose level is high, active during this period can also help lower your glucose level.
Exercise increases your sensitivity to insulin and promotes more stable blood glucose levels throughout the day. Furthermore, incorporating stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and yoga into your daily life can further contribute to managing your overall blood sugar level.
Insulin therapy
Choosing an insulin regimen should be personalized for each patient, taking into account the extent of the dawn phenomenon. Continuous insulin infusions exhibit excellent control as they can counteract the dawn phenomenon in early morning bolus, unlike long-acting insulin preparations.
In type 1 diabetes, the phenomenon of dawn must be considered as well as nocturne hypoglycemia to achieve accurate insulin control. Adjusting insulin based solely on early-morning fasting glucose levels may result in greater doses than required if the magnitude of the dawn phenomenon is not taken into account.
Consistent dinner timing
Some may consider skipping dinner, but it is essential to have dinner in the evening to avoid hypoglycemia. Regular dietary consumption improves insulin management and prevents massive spikes and blood sugar drops. You can avoid high sugar levels by choosing a small meal with a high protein-to-carbohydrate ratio and eating dinner early rather than later.
summary
Ignoring the persistent dawn phenomenon can lead to long-term increases in daily blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of diabetes complications. To address this, testing your blood sugar levels at 2am or 3am can help distinguish between Dawn’s phenomenon and Somogyi effects and guide you to a personalized treatment plan. thrivedailywellness nutritionists tailor diets to individual preferences to ensure practical and sustainable solutions. Tracking your glucose levels with CGM provides real-time insights while avoiding bedtime carbohydrates, engaging in nighttime exercise, and personalized insulin therapy contributes to effective management. Consistent dinner timing will further stabilize your blood sugar levels.
thrivedailywellness Suggestions
The ideal way to help prevent the dawn phenomenon is to have high fiber, low carbs, and low fat snacks at bedtime.
An ideal snack would be topped with 4-5 almonds or walnut-painted milk. This can be increased further by adding a pinch of turmeric to the milk. Also, don’t forget to have dinner at a relatively consistent time and keep carbs in dinner.
The final words
The dawn phenomenon, characterized by high blood sugar levels from 3am to 8am, raises concerns among people with diabetes. To effectively manage this phenomenon, measures such as identifying its presence through nighttime blood glucose testing, utilizing thrivedailywellness’s personalized dietary plans, and monitoring blood glucose levels with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Consistently adhere to dinner timing and prioritizing diets with protein-carbohydrate ratios can greatly contribute to maintaining stable blood sugar levels.
Precise control, especially in type 1 diabetes, depends on optimal insulin therapy tailored to the individual dawn phenomenal characteristics. thrivedailywellness’s comprehensive support with nutritional guidance and continuous glucose monitoring will actively help maintain optimal diabetes control and minimize the risk of complications.
Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to disperse knowledge and raise awareness. I am not going to replace medical advice from experts. For more information, please contact a certified dietitian here.
Source of research
Dawn phenomenon and somogie effects – Two phenomena of morning hyperglycemia
Dawn phenomenon
Thirty Years of Study on the Dawn Phenomena: Lessons for Optimizing Blood Glycemic Control in Diabetes
Investigating the effects of dawn phenomenon on glucose-induced eating thresholds in individuals with type 2 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring: an observational study: an observational study
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q: How long will the Dawn phenomenon last?
A: The “dawn phenomenon” is a hyperglycemic episode in a diabetic patient, which usually occurs from 3am to 8am, occurs early in the morning and lasts for about 5 hours.
Q: Can Dawn phenomenon occur in non-diabetic patients?
A: Non-diabetic people generally regulate blood sugar levels through the body’s natural insulin response, and the dawn phenomenon is not usually a concern. Several studies suggest that mild form of dawning may occur in individuals without diabetes. However, blood glucose levels increase is usually minimal and within normal range.
Q: How can you naturally treat the dawn phenomenon?
A: Almost everyone with diabetes experiences the dawn phenomenon, and there are ways to manage it. One way is to avoid eating carbs before going to bed. Another approach is to take insulin just before going to bed, not early in the evening. Consulting with your doctor about adjusting insulin or other diabetes medications can also help you manage the phenomenon. Using an insulin pump overnight is another option to consider.
Q: What foods prevent the dawn phenomenon?
A: To prevent morning glucose spikes, one strategy is to limit your carbohydrate intake in the evening. Instead of consuming trans and saturated fats from difficult-to-digest animal sources, choose monovalent saturated fats derived from easily digestible plants. Non-flexible vegetables and high-fiber foods can help stabilize blood sugar levels.
Q: How and why does the Dawn phenomenon occur?
A: Dawn phenomenon, or the effect of dawn, occurs when blood sugar levels naturally rise in early mornings, usually between 3am and 8am, due to early morning hormonal changes. Growth hormone and cortisol levels increase at night and peak early in the morning, reducing insulin sensitivity and promoting liver glucose production. People with diabetes, especially those with insulin or insulin resistance, can have high fasting blood glucose levels during the morning.
Q: How many hours does the dawn phenomenon last?
A: “Dawn phenomenon” refers to episodes of hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. It usually occurs between 3am and 8am, and usually occurs early in the morning for about five hours.
