What Is the “Dawn Phenomenon”?
All people have the “dawn phenomenon” whether they have diabetes or not. The dawn phenomenon is a surge of hormones that the body produces daily between about 2:00 and 8:00 a.m. People with diabetes don’t have normal insulin responses to adjust for this, and may see their fasting glucose go up.
Some researchers believe the natural overnight release of the so-called counter-regulatory hormones – including growth hormones, cortisol, glucagon and epinephrine – increases insulin resistance, causing blood sugar to rise. This is why high fasting blood glucose levels are common in people with type 2 diabetes.
Steps that may help:
- Eat dinner earlier in the evening.
- Do something active after dinner (such as going for a walk).
If your fasting glucose continues to be high, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication.
–Sources: American Diabetes Association; Mayo Clinic
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