Liver Dump?

TashiaMH
TashiaMH Posts: 70 Member
Before I went to bed my BGL was 104. This morning it was 150. I've seen this trend over the last couple of months since I started tracking again. Could this be a liver dump? I don't have my gallbladder anymore (not sure if that is relevant) I use the flex pen. I currently use 30 in the a.m. and 30 in the p.m. (in September I was using 60 and 60 before tracking food and exercising).

Should I be concerned about this? Ever since finding out I had T2D I've had issues with fasting BGL. Is there any way to prevent the liver dumps overnight.?

Replies

  • mamajenb
    mamajenb Posts: 53 Member
    I have issues with fasting numbers too bit I don't know what a liver dump is.
  • jessiekanga
    jessiekanga Posts: 564 Member
    "Liver Dump" is when your body believes it's low on sugar, usually during a "low" in a fasting period, and so goes into glucose storage to release more into the bloodstream. The effect is a rise in sugar though you haven't eaten anything. It happens most often to folks when they are sleeping, and so they wake up with higher fasting numbers than when they went to sleep.

    Are you eating anything before you go to bed? My sugar rises when fasting, and I'm not on insulin currently, but it was worse (more frequent) when I was on insulin. My PCP's theory was that as long as it didn't regularly go over 140, and my other readings and A1C were in check, not to worry. She asked me to call her if I routinely went above 140.

    I was advised to have an evening snack when I had gestational diabetes, the equivalent of 15 grams of carb, and that did seem to help stabalize my sugar overnight. Also, reducing and ultimately eliminating my insulin helped, as all else was normal the thought was that perhaps I didn't need that much insulin, that the insulin was, in fact, making my sugar too low overnight to cause the pull from storage and thus the spike. I'm not saying that's for everyone, but it would be worth talking over with your provider just in case.

    Those are the only two thoughts I have, good luck, and keep us posted!
  • travisseger
    travisseger Posts: 271 Member
    It is not uncommon for the fasting number to be higher than the number you have when going to bed. My highest reading of every day is almost always my fasting number - it's still within an acceptable range, but it is higher than my other readings throughout the day. What works for me is evening exercise. If I exercise after dinner, my fasting number tends to be at least 10 points lower in the morning than it is on mornings after I do not exercise.
  • TashiaMH
    TashiaMH Posts: 70 Member
    Thanks, I'll try eating something before bed.
  • CRody44
    CRody44 Posts: 737 Member
    Informative article.

    Understanding Liver Dump or Dawn Phenomenon in Diabetes

    http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_8042.shtml
  • StartingAtSixty
    StartingAtSixty Posts: 85 Member
    Informative article.

    Understanding Liver Dump or Dawn Phenomenon in Diabetes

    http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_8042.shtml

    Excellent article...
  • Sweets1954
    Sweets1954 Posts: 507 Member
    I have been noticing the same trend, my BGL was within range in the evening but above 100 when I tested it in the morning. I asked my doctor about this and she explained about the liver dump. I have tried to make a point of eating a snack before I go to bed, sometimes it helps and other times not. I am still struggling with what I should be eating. Hopefully I will find the right combination to help me control my levels.
  • Taem2
    Taem2 Posts: 47 Member
    BGL being 150 in the morning isn't bad, especially if you know that it is a "liver dump."

    I stopped eating at 7 pm and went for a 15-30 minute walk shortly after. It should help.

    Please consider not eating anything before bed.
  • reerazzle
    reerazzle Posts: 81 Member
    I suffer from something similar. My FBG was in the 142 to 165 range a month ago. I am on 2g of metamorphin morning and night.
    For the past month I have slowly been cutting my carbs and I am around 100g a day now. I have also added exercise in the evening after my meals. My numbers have come down to 105 to 120. Not great I know but a huge improvement.
    I just implemented on things I read on this forum,so thanks everyone! Hoping that once some weight comes off, the numbers will further improve.
  • CRody44
    CRody44 Posts: 737 Member
    For the first time in a month and a half, I experienced a big “liver dump” (Dawn Phenomenon). Last night, my 2 hour post dinner BG was 111 and this morning was 133. This is the first “liver dump” of over 5 mg/dl in several months. I may have a dump of a few points only a few times a month. I had 0 carbs for dinner and only 33 for the day, but had a late night snack of 2 oz. of salami and 2 oz. of mozzarella. Just when you think you have it figured out, diabetes proves you wrong. I have to do a lot more research on this. I have been diabetes med free since 1/1/13 and would like to stay that way.

    Mentioned above, I found a good article on the “Dawn Phenomenon” http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_8042.shtml
    which suggested nuts or a green apple before bed to combat this. Before that, I’ll try to test at 10pm, 2am, 4am and upon awakening, to see if it is actually a liver dump or another problem.

    Johns Hopkins: http://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/ub/view/Johns_Hopkins_Diabetes_Guide/547034/all/Dawn+Phenomenon
    defines Dawn Phenomenon as:
    • The tendency for blood glucose to rise between 4 and 8 AM.
    • To be clinically relevant, should have an increase of blood glucose by >10 mg/dl or an increased insulin requirement of 20% during these hours
    Diagnosis
    • Blood glucose measurements at bedtime (10-11 pm) and early morning (2, 4 and 8 am) should be obtained. Dawn phenomenon shows an abrupt increase between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.,

    See also: http://forecast.diabetes.org/magazine/features/rocky-morning-highs