Waking up to high bl00d sugar levels—even when you haven’t consumed anything—can be baffling and annoying. This early morning spike is a popular issue for people with diabetes and prediabetes. The culprit? Something called the dawn phenomenon.
Let’s discover what it is, why it occurs, and what you can do to control it.
🌅 What Is the Dawn Phenomenon?
The dawn phenomenon refers to a natural rise in bl0od sugar levels that happens in the early morning hours, typically between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. This occurs in both people with and without diabetes, but for those with diabetes, the effect is more prominent and harder to manage.
🧬 Why Does It Occur?
Your body follows a 24-hour cycle called the circadian rhythm. In the early morning, your body starts preparing to wake up by releasing certain hormones such as:
Cortisol
Growth hormone
Epinephrine (adrenaline)
Glucagon
These hormones signal the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream to offer energy for waking up. In people without diabetes, the pancreas responds by releasing more insulin to stablize blood sugar.
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