What is the Somogyi effect in diabetes?

The Somogyi effect or phenomenon happens when you take insulin before bed and wake up with high blood sugar levels. According to the theory of the Somogyi effect, when insulin lowers your blood sugar too much, it can trigger a release of hormones that send your blood sugar levels into a rebound high.

What is the most likely cause of the Somogyi effect?

The causes of Somogyi phenomenon include excess or ill-timed insulin, missed meals or snacks, and inadvertent insulin administration. Unrecognized posthypoglycemic hyperglycemia can lead to declining metabolic control and hypoglycemic complications.

How do you fix Somogyi effect?

Treatment options include:

  1. adjusting the timing of insulin administration.
  2. lowering the dose of insulin before bed.
  3. changing the type of insulin.
  4. eating a snack with the evening insulin dosage.
  5. taking into account lifestyle factors, such as stress and exercise.

When does the Somogyi effect occur?

The Somogyi effect can occur any time you or your child has extra insulin in the body. To sort out whether an early morning high blood sugar level is caused by the dawn phenomenon or Somogyi effect, check blood sugar levels at bedtime, around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., and at your normal wake-up time for several nights.

Is Somogyi effect normal?

For people who have diabetes, the Somogyi effect and the dawn phenomenon both cause higher blood sugar levels in the morning. The dawn phenomenon happens naturally, but the Somogyi effect usually happens because of problems with your diabetes management routine.

What’s the Somogyi effect?

If the blood sugar level drops too low in the early morning hours, hormones (such as growth hormone, cortisol, and catecholamines) are released. These help reverse the low blood sugar level but may lead to blood sugar levels that are higher than normal in the morning.

What is a Somogyi effect?

How do Somogyi effect and dawn phenomenon differ?

How can you tell the difference?

  • If the blood sugar level is low at 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., suspect the Somogyi effect.
  • If the blood sugar level is normal or high at 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., it’s likely the dawn phenomenon.

Can non diabetics have Somogyi effect?

In an individual that does not have diabetes, the blood glucose and insulin concentrations stay flat and constant throughout the night, with a transient increase in insulin just before dawn to prevent hepatic glucose production through gluconeogenesis and prevent hyperglycemia.

How can I stabilize my blood sugar overnight?

Try one the following healthful snacks before bed to help manage blood sugar levels and satisfy nighttime hunger:

  1. A handful of nuts.
  2. A hard-boiled egg.
  3. Low-fat cheese and whole-wheat crackers.
  4. Baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, or cucumber slices.
  5. Celery sticks with hummus.
  6. Air-popped popcorn.
  7. Roasted chickpeas.

Why is blood sugar high in the morning non diabetic?

This happens just as nighttime levels of insulin are starting to taper off. The reduction in insulin and rise in glucagon and cortisol levels cause blood sugar to spike in the morning. People without diabetes produce additional insulin at this time to counter the effect, but diabetes prevents the body from doing this.

What does the Somogyi effect mean for diabetics?

The Somogyi effect is an overnight hormonal rebound. In other words, you go to bed with hypoglycemia and wake up with hyperglycemia. It’s somewhat controversial based on ambivalent research findings. But diabetics and their treating physicians can point to some studies to confirm it.

What to do if you have the Somogyi effect?

Treatment and prevention. If you have diabetes and experience the Somogyi effect, talk to your doctor. Discuss any recurring fluctuations, such as high morning blood sugar levels. Ask how you can adjust your diabetes management routine to keep your blood sugar under control.

How can you tell if a dog has the Somogyi effect?

A blood glucose curve can help detect a Somogyi effect and confirm that a dog’s insulin dose needs to be reduced. Any of the following blood glucose curves can be suggestive of the Somogyi effect: Hypoglycemia (low nadir) followed by rebound hyperglycemia.

Which is more common the dawn phenomenon or the Somogyi effect?

The Somogyi effect is present in the case of excessive amounts of exogenous insulin. The dawn phenomenon is more common than the Somogyi effect. To diagnose these phenomena, it is useful to measure plasma glucose levels for several nights between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. or use a continuous glucose monitoring system.