Glycogen release to combat lows

[kemist]

ok we all know about how a drug called Glucagon can be used during a severe hypoglycemic reaction to stimulate the liver to release Glycogen (stored sugar in the liver) to quickly raise your sugar

BUT!

I wonder, does anyone know if this can still happen without glucagon, if you are going low? I think on occasion I have gone quite low a few times in the night and my body responded my boosting my sugar way up to like a 14.0 or so..

Anyone else have this happen?

I would really like to know if this happens...

because if it does, then this can fool alot of people into thinking that they are not taking enough insulin to cover their nighttime sugars when in actual fact, their own body is pumping out a surge of sugar to combat a low because of TOO MUCH insulin....

Any thoughts fellow members?


kemist

[David]

YES, this does happen. Its called "Hypoglycemic Rebound" when it happens while youre awake and its called the "Somogyi Effect" when it happens while asleep at night. HR can also be partially be caused by overeating when low.
Yes, it can fool people into thinking they have another problem, "Dawn Phenomenon". Testing at night usually can determine whether you have SE or DP.

[kemist]

Is there a baseline or standard test I can do if I am prepared to wake myself up 5-6 times during the night to test?

thanks for that info..... I am learning so much here... I'm excited to find out which one I have...

kemist

[David]

I like to be 90-110 all night. I think thats about 5.0-6.1 for you, right? Testing 5-6Xs at night sounds like overkill to me, usually once at 3am is enough, but the results may be interesting and prove useful. You may also want to do a Google search on Somogyi Effect, Somogyi or Hypoglycemic Rebound, and Dawn Phenomenon for more info.

[kemist]

5-6 all night? Have you been maintaining that?

Do you mind telling me your regime? Just to get an idea....
Yep, I'm gonna look up those things on the net!

kemist

[David]

Thats what I like to be, but I dont always get what I like :( . My regime is to use a pump with a higher basal rate at night to deal with Dawn Phenomenon.

[Gina]

I have the dawn phenomenon....during the hours of 3am-8am my blood sugars raise....this happens because when your body is ready to wake in the morning you hormones screw up your blood sugars during certain hours...

since im on the pump the phenonmenon is much better....

also if you eat alot in the evening your blood sugars will be much higher in the morning .....

[Gina]

they say usually that people usually have dawn phenomenon if you have ha d diabetes a short amount of time, use alot of insulin in the day, have poor control, or raging hormones lol