That’s because early morning spikes in blood sugar may lead to higher average blood sugar levels and the many health complications that stem from it. It has been suggested that the dawn phenomenon may lead to as much as a 0.4% increase in a person’s A1C levels—a measurement of average blood sugar levels over time.
How much does dawn phenomenon raise blood sugar?
A 2013 study of people with type 2 diabetes found that the dawn phenomenon can increase A1C levels, a measure of average blood sugar levels over three months, by 0.4 percent.
How do you counteract dawn phenomenon?
- Avoid carbohydrates at bedtime.
- Adjust your dose of medication or insulin.
- Switch to a different medication.
- Change the time when you take your medication or insulin from dinnertime to bedtime.
- Use an insulin pump to administer extra insulin during early-morning hours.
