What is the recommended treatment for the dawn phenomenon in diabetes management?

The recommended treatment for the dawn phenomenon, which is characterized by an increase in blood glucose levels in the early morning hours, is to increase the bedtime insulin dose. This condition is primarily caused by the liver's release of glucose during the night, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels upon waking.

Increasing the bedtime insulin dose helps counteract this rise in glucose by providing more insulin in the system during the overnight hours. This adjustment can help maintain better blood glucose control and prevent hyperglycemia experienced in the morning.

While other options like reducing evening physical activity or switching to rapid-acting insulin may also be part of an overall diabetes management plan, they do not specifically target the underlying mechanism of the dawn phenomenon as effectively as adjusting the bedtime insulin dose does. Similarly, initiating a low-carbohydrate diet may assist with overall glucose management but won't address the specific nocturnal rise in blood sugar levels caused by the dawn phenomenon. Thus, increasing the bedtime insulin dosage is the most targeted and effective option for managing this particular issue.