An event that sometimes happens to people with diabetes. It occurs more often in type 1 than type 2. Dawn phenomenon causes a rise in blood glucose levels early in the morning before you wake up.
During the night, hormones may be released that trigger the liver to release glucose. If there is not enough insulin in the body to counteract this, then blood glucose levels rise during the night, resulting in the higher reading in the morning.
It may be tempting to skip breakfast in an effort to bring down the glucose level, but not eating will not accomplish this. Eating breakfast allows blood glucose levels to return to normal by turning off the mechanism that is causing the liver to release glucose, thereby breaking the cycle. If no breakfast is eaten, then the blood glucose will continue to rise.
For an indepth look at dawn phenomenon, read more...
Sources: Kaufman, MD, Francine Ratner. "The Dawn Phenomenon." DOC News Vol. 3. Number 7. page 5. 01 Jul 2006 27 Nov 2007.
