What Is It?
- Temporary increase in glucose production by the liver resulting in morning glucose elevations
- Still not well understood, but thought to be due to a surge of hormones (especially growth hormone) in the early morning hours
- Likely to occur in the majority of people with diabetes
- In normal individuals, a small increase in insulin secretion before dawn prevents this; however, patients with diabetes often can’t make enough insulin to counteract this
Who experiences it?
- Approximately 54% of persons with type 1 diabetes
- Approximately 55% of persons with type 2 diabetes
The most likely cause of the dawn phenomenon is growth hormone-mediated impairment of insulin sensitivity at the liver and muscles.
Reference