Dawn Phenomenon

I originally started writing this post with the intention of using the phrase, “Dawn Phenomenon”, in a humorous way to refer to my tendency to wake up feeling “high”, as if the mere opening of my eyelids flips on a switch that fires up my synapses all at once. As my guy has observed, usually with a bemused smirk, it is during these first few moments of the day that I’m bustling about, accomplishing more than I would in several hours and talking a mile a minute about how we can save the world.

But on a more serious note, “Dawn Phenomenon” is also a condition experienced by some diabetics whose blood sugar levels spike overnight. A quick Google search reveals that it results from the release of certain hormones during the early morning hours that causes an increase in insulin resistance, and other hormones that add stored or new glucose to the bloodstream. This especially sucks for diabetics, who lack the ability to produce or properly use insulin to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy.

For a personal perspective on DP and managing diabetes, check out the blog by Mr. Dawn Phenomenon, who gives the humbling statistic: “If all the diabetics were in one country, it would be the eighth largest nation in the world.”