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Q: Dawn phenomenon
asked by: Niklas89 on May 20th, 2009
New User
Reading Dr. Bernstein Diabetes Solution, I have finally found out why morning is such a problem for hyopolycemics.
My own experience is that (expecially when my hypo was out of control) I would feel terrible when waking up, would feel terrible the whole morning and would start to feel a bit better in the evening.

I also noticed that carbs in the morning would quickly trigger an hypo episodes and ruin the whole day, but if eaten at dinner and before bedtime even sugar seemed to have a less bad effect. In other words I was suddenly carb tolerant at night and extremely hypo and carb intolerant in the morning. I have talked with lot of people with Reactive Hypoglycemia and it's the same of each of them, morning is the worst moment of the day.

The reason is something called Dawn Phenomenon
It seems that our body clears the blood from insulin first thing in the morning so that enough glucose remains available for a boost of morning energy. This also proves that we're not wired for breakfast (and no animal is) and that we don't need to "raise our blood sugars" in the morning by eating a carb rich breakfast. I have the highest blood sugar reading in the morning out of the whole fasting period. In fact all people do, if they tested their blood sugar at waking time they would notice they're not low at all and there's no reason to raise them.

The Dawn Phenomenon explains why hypoglycemics have a stronger reaction to glycemic foods in the morning.
A person with Glucose Intolerance will experience a rapid sugar spike followed by an excessive insulin surge.
If high glycemic foods are eaten at this time a roller coaster is triggered for the rest of the day, which is why we often read of people who claim morning and breakfast have the potential of ruining the whole day for them. Foods that are not a problem in the afternoon and evening can throw your blood sugar off for the rest of the day when eaten at breakfast.

Hence as hypoglycemics or even diabetics we're better with less carbs in the morning and more carb in the evening.
It's the reason why in its very low carb diet Bernsteain suggest no more than 6 grams of carbs for breakfast and no more than 12 grams of carbs at lunch or dinner. Uneccessarily low total carb intake aside, he suggests a lower carb in the morning because it is going to influence the dawn phenomenon.
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danielv
replied on May 20th, 2009
Advanced Support Team
Hey, thanks for that informative and thorough post. I'm not a diagnosed hypoglycemic, however I have noticed from my own experience that I often don't need to eat until later in the day, and that carb heavy breakfasts often make me sleepy. Protein on the other hand does not.

In my own experience carbs in the morning, and even with lunch ruin my rhythm for the rest of the day.

I have also noticed the evening effect - that I can eat tons of carbs at night without noticeable negative consequences.

Very interesting...
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ncann22
replied on May 20th, 2009
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And this would also explain why a fasting blood test, taken first thing in the morning shows up "normal"?
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Stan
replied on May 20th, 2009
Moderator
Yep, that's why right there. Good info, glad you posted it. I myself noticed very early on when I was developing the diet I give people here that eating a lot of carbs in the morning was never a good thing. I go with Franco Columbu on this, lunch should be your biggest meal of the day. Breakfast second largest and dinner smaller than that. You can have some snacks here and there if you're hungry, but that's the way to go.
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karabelle
replied on August 10th, 2009
New User
Thank you for the post. This makes so much sense. It took me months to figure out that I don't need a carb in the morning, I actually feel better without it.
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