The dawn effect happens in most people, even if they don’t have diabetes. It usually happens between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m., when your body gets ready to wake up and start the day. At this time, your body makes some hormones, such as cortisol, growth hormone, glucagon, and adrenaline, that make more sugar in your liver and make your cells less able to use insulin. This makes your blood sugar go up, which gives your body the energy it needs to work.
But for people with diabetes, the dawn effect can be a trouble. Diabetes is when your body does not make enough insulin or does not use it well. This makes your blood sugar higher than normal, especially after you eat. When the dawn effect happens, your blood sugar can go even higher, because your body cannot balance the hormones with enough insulin. This can cause hyperglycemia, which is when your blood sugar is too high. Hyperglycemia can make you feel thirsty, pee a lot, have a headache, and have trouble thinking. It can also make you more likely to have problems, such as nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, and heart disease.
So, it is important for people with diabetes to keep their blood sugar levels in the morning, and all day, under control. Some of the ways to do this are:
- Eating a good breakfast that has carbs, protein, and fiber. This can help lower the blood sugar rise and keep it steady for longer.
- Checking blood sugar levels often, especially before and after you eat, and changing the amount of medicine or insulin you take as needed.
- Working out in the evening or before you go to sleep, which can make your cells more able to use insulin and lower your blood sugar levels at night.
- Not having snacks or drinks that have sugar or caffeine before you go to sleep, which can make your blood sugar go up and make your sleep worse.
- Talking to a doctor or a diabetes teacher about the best way to treat your diabetes and deal with the dawn effect.
The dawn effect is a normal and common thing that changes your blood sugar levels in the morning. But for people with diabetes, it can be hard to keep their blood sugar and avoid hyperglycemia. By living a healthy life and following a plan that suits them, people with diabetes can keep their blood sugar levels in the morning and all day, and lower the chance of having problems.
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