Early in the morning Before breakfast ( 7 am ), the blood glucose levels are high and this is attributed to low hypoglycemia in the middle of night ( 3 am) , which led to the body reacting by increasing hormones to increase Blood Glucose levels by 7 am. This phenomenon is known as the Somogyi effect.
Hormones which Decrease Blood Glucose Levels
- Insulin
Hormones which Increase Blood Glucose Levels
- Glucagon
- Epinephrine
- Growth Hormone
- Cortisol
However, a more common cause for pre breakfast hyperglycemia is the waning of circulating insulin levels by the morning.
How do we know about the Somogyi Effect?
Patients are asked to check Blood Glucose levels at 3 am, in addition to the usual checking time at 7 am.
The Somogyi effect can be treated by removing the dose of intermediate insulin at dinner time or lowering the dose at bedtime or by eating more food at bedtime.
| Blood Glucose mg/dL | Free Insulin(microunit/mL) | |||||
| 10:00 PM | 3:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 10:00 PM | 3:00 AM | 7:00 AM | |
| Somogyi Effect | 90 | 40 | 200 | High | Slightly High | Normal |
| Dawn Phenomenon | 110 | 110 | 150 | Normal | Normal | Normal |
Blood Sugar converter from mg/dL into mmol/L is by know that,
1 mg/dL = 0.1 mmol/L
Whereas Dawn phenomenon occurring naturally in most people, is due to reduced tissue sensitivity to insulin between 5 am and 8 am, hence we see Increased Blood Glucose at 7 am, while the insulin levels are within normal range.
