Dawn Phenomenon

[frombc]

I had never taken my fasting BG at any other time than just waking up until today. I took it again 1.5 hours after waking up and it had gone up from 97 to 106.

I know this is called Dawn phenomenon. Does this happen to 'normal' people? Is this proof that I'm most likely PD?

[xMenace]

It means nothing. Those are the same readings. The difference is insignificant when you consider an allowed 30% variance. Meters are only best guesses. Try taking back-to-back readings once in awhile. Learn what your built in meter variance is like.

[Ronin]

Hi Frombc!

There is a lot written about the Dawn Phenemonon/Effect, in reality it is just a bit more noticable in the AM than it is during the day. It is simply the mechanism by which our bodies try to maintain energy (glucose) levels.

Glucose/glycogen is stored in the body in various locations. Muscle cells have a small stockple, the liver has a large supply and, then storage in fat cells.

There is a signaling system that the cells use to alert the rest of the body that they are "running on empty." This signal is then responded to by the liver which dumps glycogen into the blood stream. That signals the pancreas to secrete insulin so that the cells can use the glucose. Actually it is a very beautiful system as well as being complex and fragile.

Why we see this is in the morning is that we have been asleep for more than a few hours, our bodies (predominately the brain) have been consuming energy for all of that time and periodocally sending out for more energy. The stores available from that last meal are gone. (This explains the midnight muchies that some people experience.) Around dawn, as our bodies wake up every cell is calling for energy and the liver responds with what is called a "Liver Dump." I'd love to say that this is a very measured dose, but it isn't -- a lot of glycogen is released. Then comes the insulin, so we spike up, and come back down. While XMenace's note about meter range is correct, the fact is that our bodies are trying to adjust to our needs for energy.

Actually this happens occasionally through the day. In an ideal world we would eat a small amount of calories about every three to four hours and our BG levels would smooth out and hold steady. But, the way we live that just doesn't work. We have meal times, meetings, work times, commuting, exercise, sleep time, all causing our glucose to rise and fall while our bodies are continually trying to adjust.

[Subby]

Hi Frombc!

There is a lot written about the Dawn Phenemonon/Effect, in reality it is just a bit more noticable in the AM than it is during the day. It is simply the mechanism by which our bodies try to maintain energy (glucose) levels.


Sorry, but I do consider your account a little suspect due to the fact that I can experience dawn phenomenon (and other 24 hour cycles) on top of stable, but already normal to high BGs.

I can understand your opinions based on the experience of comparatively stable blood sugars of a prediabetic. I can however say that the balance can be severely disrupted and DP and other times of heightened hormonal response/glucagon release/resistance will occur regardless, often like clockwork, like a blundering bus driving straight into a pileup.

[foxl]

It means nothing. Those are the same readings. The difference is insignificant when you consider an allowed 30% variance. Meters are only best guesses. Try taking back-to-back readings once in awhile. Learn what your built in meter variance is like.

OneTouch Ultra claims only 3% within a lot of strips, in their package enclosure ... which I do believe. The 20% expected variance is BETWEEN measuring devices, ie different meters, or comparison to clinical laboratories.