I hope this doesn’t cross the line when talking about health-related issues. I’m not really looking for medical advice, as the problem I’m about to describe has a trivial and obvious solution which I’ve already implemented; I’m just interested in the mechanics.
I have type-2 diabetes. When I was first diagosed I managed it with glyburide, Avandia, diet, and exercise; now I’m down to diet and exercise, and haven’t taken any any meds in a few months. I do an hour on the bike or the treadmill each day, and don’t allow myself to eat anything after 7 p.m. unless my blood sugar is elevated right before bed. My A1C numbers are good – under 5.9 the last two times I was checked.
When I went entirely off pills a few months ago, I was doing my hour of exercise all at once: in the morning before breakfast and after checking my blood sugar. Under this regime my morning reading would be between 90 & 110 – pretty much exactly what it should be – and my readings during the day would be no more than 130 or so unless I pigged out. These were similar to the numbers I got when I was exercising half an hour in the mornings and taking a glyburide pill.
In December I found myself getting busier in the mornings, so I changed my exercise routine slightly: half an hour in the mornings, then half an hour in the evenings after dinner–generally around 8-9 o’clock. Other readings remained fine , but I noticed my morning readings creeping upwards to as high as 140. I changed back to the previous routine on New Year’s, and my fasting reading went back to what it had been.
I did NOT indulge in sweets & such during the holidays, so that can’t be it. What could cause the change I’ve described? I mean, I realize that my liver must be releasing glucose during the night, but I’m not sure why. Thoughts, anybody?