Skip to main content

Dawn Phenomenon

Overview

The dawn phenomenon can cause high blood sugar levels, especially in the morning before breakfast, in people who have diabetes.

The dawn phenomenon is a normal rise in blood sugar as a person's body prepares to wake up.

  • In the early morning hours, hormones (growth hormone, cortisol, and catecholamines) cause the liver to release large amounts of sugar into the bloodstream. For most people, the body produces insulin to control the rise in blood sugar.
  • If the body doesn't produce enough insulin, blood sugar levels can rise. This may cause high blood sugar in the morning (before eating).

If you have diabetes and your blood sugars are often high in the morning, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your medicines.

Related Information

Credits

Current as of: October 2, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

 

PeaceHealth endeavors to provide comprehensive health care information, however some topics in this database describe services and procedures not offered by our providers or within our facilities because they do not comply with, nor are they condoned by, the ethics policies of our organization.