Glucose Happens 24/7
When we eat food, the body breaks it down into glucose for energy. This glucose enters cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. The body uses insulin to use glucose, and it stores excess glucose in the liver and muscles as glycogen. When blood sugar drops, the body stops producing insulin and produces glucagon instead, a hormone that signals the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream and break down stored glycogen.
Hormones Raise Blood Glucose
The rise in blood glucose in the morning is caused by the release of hormones known as insulin and cortisol. These hormones signal the liver to release glucose from stored glycogen. The glucose then flows into the blood, where it is metabolized and then used by cells throughout the body. While this temporary spike in blood sugar is normal for healthy people, it can cause trouble for people who suffer from diabetes.
However, it is possible to control high morning blood sugar levels with exercise and diet. In addition to exercise, you can also take a walk after dinner, which will lower your blood sugar and keep it stable overnight. However, it is important to note that exercising before bed can lower your blood sugar too much, putting you at risk for a low during the night.
High morning blood sugar is not uncommon for people with diabetes. Fortunately, it is not a medical emergency. The increase in blood sugar is caused by a natural biological event called the dawn phenomenon. This event occurs during the early morning hours, when the body’s hormone levels are increasing and the effects of diabetes medication are wearing off.
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Decreased Insulin Production
If you have diabetes, your blood sugar can spike in the morning, even if you don’t have any symptoms. This is caused by a biological phenomenon known as dawn phenomenon. In healthy people, insulin secretion is high throughout the night, but as the day progresses, the liver produces less insulin than usual. During this time, your body produces higher levels of other hormones, such as growth hormone and cortisol, causing blood glucose levels to spike in the early morning hours.
The first step is to understand why your blood sugar spikes in the morning. There are several reasons for this. For instance, your insulin pump settings may be too low. Or, you may be taking too little long-acting insulin, resulting in high levels in the morning. Regardless of the reason, you must adjust your insulin dosage and eat a low-carb, low-sugar meal at a reasonable time.
Managing blood sugar levels in the morning is an important step for people with diabetes. It is crucial to talk to your healthcare provider about your lifestyle changes and medications to prevent this problem. In many cases, changes in diet and exercise regimen can help reduce the morning glucose levels. If you are already taking medication for diabetes, your healthcare provider will be able to match the dose of insulin with your diet and exercise routine. In addition, avoid drinking alcohol, which may increase your risk for hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia known as the Somogyi Effect
This phenomenon occurs when the blood sugar is low during the night, leading to a high level in the morning. Some people experience this phenomenon only during the morning, but for some people, it happens throughout the day. In some people, it can result in night sweats or nightmares.
This phenomenon is caused by several factors, including a high-carbohydrate bedtime snack or inadequate intake of diabetes medications. In rare cases, the cause may be the somogyi effect or a waning insulin supply. Although an occasional high will not significantly affect your A1C, a recurring morning high can push it into dangerous territory.
There is no cure for this condition, but there are ways to minimize its effects. The first thing you can do is to make sure that you check your blood sugar before bed. If you’re unable to do so, set an alarm and check your blood sugar levels at 3am in the morning. This will help you identify whether or not you’re suffering from the Somogyi Effect.
Poor Overall Glucose Control
High blood sugar in the morning is a common problem for people with diabetes and prediabetes. Many factors can affect morning blood sugar levels, including the type of dinner you ate the night before and the timing of your morning meal. Avoiding high carbohydrate, high sugar dinners before bed can help maintain stable blood sugar levels. Instead of eating sweets before bed, aim to consume dinners rich in protein, healthy fats, and fiber. It’s also a good idea to avoid consuming carbs in the morning to avoid blood sugar spikes.
If you’re having blood sugar problems in the morning, your doctor can prescribe additional medications that can lower your blood sugar levels. A change in the dose of your medication may also help. You may also want to adjust the time or amount of insulin you take during the day.
Keeping a log of your symptoms is helpful in getting a proper diagnosis and identifying the cause of your blood sugar problems. It is also helpful to monitor your blood glucose levels throughout the day to see if you have a pattern. If the symptoms persist day after day, you should see a doctor. Getting a proper diagnosis will help you manage your symptoms and reduce your risk of developing other health conditions.
Lifestyle Strategies To Lower Morning Blood Sugar
One of the easiest Lifestyle Strategies To lower morning blood sugar is increasing your physical activity. Not only does it burn fat and increase energy, but it also improves your overall health. Strength training and running are excellent forms of exercise for reducing blood sugar levels and keeping your weight in check. Another helpful Lifestyle Strategy is reducing stress. Chronic stress increases your levels of cortisol, which can cause hormonal imbalances. Chronic stress also raises your blood sugar, which is detrimental for your health.
Glucose levels fluctuate throughout the day. Managing your glucose levels will help you stay within a range of 70-130 mg/dL. You may need to tweak your exercise routine to achieve this goal. If you’re unsure of what your goal is, talk to your healthcare provider.
A diet high in fiber can help lower morning blood sugar levels. Foods high in fiber slow the digestion process and the absorption of sugar. They also prevent the blood sugar from reaching its peak too quickly. Fiber-rich foods can include leafy greens, broccoli, artichokes, and raspberries.
The Bottom Line
If your blood sugar is consistently high in the morning, you might be wondering how to manage it. Your body releases insulin early in the morning, which signals your cells to take up the sugar in your blood. The goal is to keep your blood sugar level from increasing too high during the day or becoming too low throughout the night. Fortunately, there are some simple tips that can help you manage a morning blood sugar spike.
The first thing you should do is monitor your blood sugar. If you have high morning blood sugar, it could be the result of the dawn phenomenon or the Somogyi effect, where your body produces more glucose than it needs to maintain normal blood sugar levels. In order to identify if your blood sugar is high, take a reading before you go to bed and again first thing in the morning. If your blood sugar level is unusually high, see your doctor.
Changing your diet can also help you avoid a blood sugar high in the morning. It’s important to cut back on food with high sugar content and eat a lower-fat meal. This will allow your body to digest your dinner more slowly, preventing a blood sugar spike. Avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages can also help you avoid a blood sugar spike in the morning.
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