People with Type 2 Also Suffer Dawn Phenomenon
Researchers have found that the dawn phenomenon, a rise in blood glucose in the early morning hours, affects both people with type 1 and people with type 2 diabetes.
Previously it was thought to only affect people with type 1 diabetes, but in a recent study that examined data from the past 30 years, researchers determined that the dawn phenomenon occurred frequently among patients with type 2 diabetes.
The research, conducted by L. Monnier and colleagues at Lapeyronie Hospital and the University Institute of Clinical Research in Montpellier, France studied patients who treated their diabetes with diet only, or with insulin sensitizers (such as metformin), or with secretagogues (such as sulfonylureas), or with secretagogues and insulin sensitizers together. Overall, the dawn phenomenon produced an average A1c increase of 0.39 percent regardless of treatment.
As a result of their findings, the researchers recommend that patients with type 2 diabetes begin using basal insulin before their A1c reaches above 7.0%.