It can be confusing to notice that your blood sugar is high when you wake up in the morning. If you consistently notice your blood sugar higher in morning times, you may want to discuss it with your doctor and consider the reasons why it may be happening and what you can do to prevent it.
What Can Make Blood Sugar Higher In Morning?
The Dawn Phenomenon
During early morning hours, hormones can signal the liver to produce more glucose to give you the energy you need to wake up. This will cause the pancreas to release insulin to maintain blood glucose levels. However, if you have diabetes, you could be too insulin resistant to counter that increase in blood sugar. Thus, you will have blood sugar higher in the morning when you wake up. People with both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes can experience the dawn phenomenon.
Dropping Insulin Levels
Overnight, if your insulin levels get too low, your blood sugar will rise. Those with an insulin pump could experience this overnight if their insulin pump settings aren’t providing enough insulin overnight or if a long-acting insulin dose is not high enough. The amount of long-acting insulin that is injected can play a role in this as well if it is injected too early.
The Somogyi Effect
The Somogyi effect was named after chemist Michael Somogyi, PhD. In the 1930s, he was the first person to accurately describe the way people have blood sugar higher in the morning. Also known as rebound hyperglycemia, the Somogyi effect could happen, for example, if you take too much insulin after dinner or miss dinner altogether. Overnight, your blood sugar can fall too low. Then your body works to make more glucose to compensate, causing you to wake up with higher blood sugar than normal.
How To Cope With High Blood Sugar In The Morning
Speaking with your doctor is one of the best places to start if you have an issue with your blood sugar being higher in the morning consistently. You may be noticing a pattern, and it is important to take note of this to discuss it with your doctor. Below are some other things you can discuss trying with your doctor.
Light Exercise After Dinner
If you are dealing with waning insulin, exercise may help you experience less high blood sugar in the morning hours. After dinner, try taking a walk or another form of light exercise, such as yoga or biking. Exercise can lower blood sugar for several hours, so exercise right before bed could put you at risk of going low overnight. Again, speak with your doctor about what they would specifically recommend.
Changing Your Breakfast Routine
For those experiencing the dawn phenomenon, your doctor may recommend eating a lighter breakfast. This doesn’t mean skipping breakfast altogether but eating something containing fiber like whole-grain oats, raspberries, apples, or oranges. Some studies show that regularly consuming foods rich in fiber may lower your A1C levels over time. Cinnamon has also been shown to have a positive effect on blood sugar levels. This recipe for oatmeal with apples and cinnamon is a great option!
Have a Bedtime Snack
For some people, eating a snack at bedtime can lessen the Somogyi effect by keeping blood sugar levels from dropping too low overnight. If your doctor agrees that having a bedtime snack will help, reach for items like:
- Nuts
- Veggies like baby carrots, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, or celery
- Whole wheat crackers and cheese
- A hard-boiled egg
- Air-popped popcorn
Try Blood Sugar Support Supplements
There are various supplements that are marketed to help with blood sugar, but make sure that you find one with ingredients you can trust and that your doctor approves. Blood Sugar Support from BioClinical Science was created by doctors and pharmacists with the highest quality ingredients to help keep blood sugar levels where they need to be. It uses all-natural ingredients including gynostemma, cinnamon bark, lion’s mane, bittermelon, and French maritime pine bark. This supplement may help keep your blood sugar more stable.
Try Blood Sugar Support Today
Gain control of your blood sugar with the help of your doctor and Blood Sugar Support. Visit the BioClinical Science website to order some today!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.