Morning High Blood Sugar in Diabetes: 2 Main Reasons

A high blood sugar reading first thing in the morning can throw off your whole day and signal a chronic problem. Despite their best efforts to control their blood sugar levels, some people simply wake up with elevated blood sugar. Starting your day this way is not just alarming if it becomes a pattern, high A.M. readings can make it difficult to achieve your long-term #diabetes management goals.There are two reasons why your blood sugar levels may be high in the morning the dawn phenomenon and the Somogyi effect.

Which of the 2 Conditions Is Causing the High Blood Sugar Levels?

To determine which of the two above conditions is causing your high blood sugar level, your doctor will likely ask you to check your blood sugar levels between 2 and 3 a.m. for several consecutive nights. If your blood sugar is consistently low during this time, the Somogyi effect is suspected (too much nighttime insulin or too small of a bedtime snack for the insulin given). If the blood sugar is normal or high during this time period, the dawn phenomenon (increases in counter-regulatory hormone) is more likely to be the cause.

Once you and your doctor determine how your blood sugar levels are behaving during the nighttime hours, he or she can advise you about the changes you need to make to better control them. Options that your doctor may discuss include:

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