| There are two reasons why glucose numbers swing | | | | glucose production. |
| during sleep or before dawn, these are known as the | | | | High morning blood sugars may also be caused by |
| Dawn Phenomenon and the Somogyi Effect. | | | | your body's recovery from low blood glucose levels |
| The Dawn Phenomenon is: | | | | at night. This phenomenon is called the Somogyi |
| - the sudden rise in blood sugar in the early morning | | | | Effect or rebound hyperglycemia which is your body's |
| hours | | | | natural mechanism against low levels. This can also |
| - the body's response to hormones released in the | | | | happen because you have too much insulin in your |
| middle of the night | | | | body from taking an insulin dose in the evening which |
| - experienced by everyone. | | | | was too high, or missing out on your bedtime snack. |
| Our body produces hormones that negate the effect | | | | The way to tell which phenomenon is affecting you |
| of insulin. These hormones include glucagon, | | | | is by checking your blood sugar level between 2 and |
| epinephrine, growth hormone and cortisol, they | | | | 3am on several consecutive nights. A high blood |
| increase your blood sugar levels by signaling your liver | | | | sugar reading means the Dawn Phenomenon is more |
| to release more glucose but prevent your body from | | | | likely the cause. If your level is consistently low, the |
| using it. | | | | Somogyi Effect is maybe the problem. |
| During the night, your body releases more growth | | | | How to manage your early morning high blood sugar |
| hormone. This is followed by a surge in cortisol, which | | | | levels? |
| effectively triggers glucose production in your liver. | | | | Do not hesitate to talk to your health care |
| This is a normal response after a period of fasting | | | | practitioner as you may need to: |
| and the aim is to get your body ready for daytime | | | | - adjust the dosage of your insulin |
| activity. In non-diabetics the rise in blood sugars is | | | | - switch to a different medication |
| counterbalanced by increased insulin secretion by the | | | | - think about using an insulin pump |
| pancreas, keeping the blood glucose within normal | | | | - avoid high-GI carbohydrate snacks at bedtime. You |
| levels. However, in diabetics such changes in glucose | | | | may need to eat a small snack containing protein or |
| metabolism during the night really affects the early | | | | fat and low-GI carbs |
| morning glucose level. This is because the pancreas | | | | - change your exercise schedule to an earlier time |
| either does not make any or enough insulin, or their | | | | during in your day. |
| liver does not respond to insulin well enough to stop | | | | |