What effect does the Somogyi effect have on blood glucose levels?

The Somogyi effect is characterized by a rebound hyperglycemia that occurs following hypoglycemia. It typically happens in individuals with diabetes who are treated with insulin. When blood glucose levels drop too low during the night (due to excessive insulin or not enough food), the body responds by releasing counter-regulatory hormones such as glucagon and epinephrine. These hormones stimulate gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in the liver, leading to a subsequent increase in blood glucose levels. As a result, individuals often wake up to find their blood glucose levels elevated.

The key aspect of the Somogyi effect is that it directly results from a cycle of low blood glucose leading to a compensatory mechanism that causes elevated levels in the morning. Understanding this physiological response helps practitioners manage diabetes effectively, as it highlights the need to balance insulin doses and carbohydrate intake to avoid nocturnal hypoglycemia and the resultant hyperglycemia characteristic of the Somogyi effect.