Dawn phenomenon: How to control high morning blood sugars

Date: May-08-2017 The dawn phenomenon is a normal, natural rise in blood sugar that occurs in the early morning hours, between roughly 4 and 8 a.m. The shift in blood sugar levels happens as a result of hormonal changes in the body.

All people experience the dawn phenomenon to one level or another, which can vary day by day. People without diabetes may never notice it happening, as a normal body's insulin response adjusts for the rise without intervention.

A person with diabetes is more likely to experience symptoms from the rise in blood sugar levels, however.

Contents of this article:

How does it affect people with diabetes?

Managing the dawn phenomenon

What is the Somogyi effect?

Treatments, home remedies, and prevention

How does it affect people with diabetes?

Dawn phenomenon is a normal rise in blood sugar released by the liver. The release happens as the person's body is preparing to wake for the day.

The rise in blood sugar is normally handled with insulin. For people with diabetes, insulin is not produced in high enough quantities, or the body is unable to use the insulin properly.

Symptoms of the dawn phenomenon include nausea, weakness, and extreme thirst roughly between 4 and 8 a.m.

As a result, a person with diabetes will feel the effects of having high sugar levels in the blood.

These effects can include:

faintness

nausea

vomiting

weakness

disorientation

feeling tired

extreme thirst

Managing the dawn phenomenon

Managing blood sugar levels is nothing new to most people with diabetes. A combination of diet, exercise, and medication often help keep the symptoms and problems under control.

In the case of dawn phenomenon, there are some additional changes that may help prevent issues caused by the spike in blood sugar.

Some steps people with diabetes can take to manage the dawn phenomenon include:

changing medication entirely or making adjustments with a doctor on existing medication

avoiding skipping meals or medication doses

avoiding carbohydrates around bedtime

taking medication closer to bedtime and not at dinner time

Other steps include eating dinner earlier in the evening. After dinner, some light physical activity, such as going for a walk, jogging, or yoga, is encouraged.

It is likely that a person with diabetes will experience high morning blood sugar levels from time to time. Occasional, mild issues from dawn phenomenon are not too worrisome. However, if the frequency becomes much more regular, then it's time to call a doctor.

Complications

People who experience the dawn phenomenon regularly should talk to their doctor as it can lead to serious complications.

If blood sugar levels spike too high as a result of dawn phenomenon, the effects can range from mild to a life-threatening medical emergency.

Some complications that a person with diabetes may experience as a result of dawn phenomenon include:

nerve damage

damage to blood vessels

organ damage

ketoacidosis, an extremely dangerous buildup of acid in the bloodstream

People who experience repeated high blood sugar levels due to dawn phenomenon should see a doctor to prevent these consequences.

Do options differ between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Differences in dealing with dawn phenomenon depends more on the individual person than what type of diabetes they have or what their treatment plan is.

A person with type 1 diabetes may adjust the dosage or type of insulin to account for any changes overnight. In other cases where the person wears an insulin pump, they may adjust the pump to deliver extra insulin in the morning.

What is the Somogyi effect?

Unlike in the dawn phenomenon, the Somogyi effect occurs when blood sugar levels drop too low. This causes the growth hormones, cortisol, and catecholamines, to release into the blood.

For example, if a person who takes insulin or medication to lower blood sugar levels does not eat a regular bedtime snack, their blood sugar levels may drop during the night.

This person's body then responds to the low blood sugar levels by releasing hormones that trigger sugar levels to go back up. This may cause blood sugar levels to be higher than normal in the morning.

How can you tell the difference?

The major difference between dawn phenomenon and the Somogyi effect is that the latter can occur any time there is extra insulin in the body.

Checking blood sugar levels between 2 and 3 a.m. can help indicate whether a person is experiencing the dawn phenomenon or the Somogyi effect.

The easiest way to rule out the Somogyi effect is to check blood sugar levels at bedtime, around 2 to 3 a.m., and after waking up for several nights and mornings.

Some people may choose to wear a continuous glucose monitor, which can record the sugar levels throughout the day and night, allowing the user to track the trends.

Here are two possible results and what they might mean:

If the blood sugar level is low at or between 2 to 3 a.m., there is a good likelihood the Somogyi effect is the cause.

If the blood sugar level is normal or high at or between 2 to 3 a.m., it is more likely that the cause is the dawn phenomenon.

Treatments, home remedies, and prevention

The best treatment is prevention. Treatment for the dawn phenomenon is likely to be the same type that they would use to treat a spike in blood sugar.

Some people may have to inject insulin while others might have specific medication to target increases in blood sugar.

Each person with diabetes should discuss with their doctor what to do when their blood sugar levels spike, regardless of whether it is the dawn phenomenon or not.

Home remedies

Home remedies do not use medication to lower blood sugar. People with diabetes should speak with their doctor before trying any home remedies or stopping their medications.

Some common remedies that do not require medicine include:

eating less refined sugar and avoiding items with added sugar

increasing activity and getting regular exercise

taking alpha lipoic acid supplements, a natural antioxidant that can be bought over the counter

eating more cinnamon

drinking green tea

taking chromium supplements help the body regulate blood sugar levels

Another potential remedy is eating more protein. Some people consider whey protein to be particularly helpful as it helps control blood sugar levels.

If dawn phenomenon occurs regularly, people with diabetes should seek advice from a doctor for the best options to help prevent the serious consequences of high blood sugar levels.

Written by Jenna Fletcher

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.