Why my blood sugar is high in the morning? How to reduce sugar to normal levels? Usually, every person has higher glucose levels in the morning, but in diabetics, those levels are significantly higher.
That is why they often have strong concerns about their condition.
Thus, one of the most common questions asked by patients with diabetes is what raises blood sugar so much in the morning.
Even in situations when we did not have breakfast at all and how to successfully control the sugar in the morning?
In today’s article, we will focus on this problem and how to reduce sugar in diabetics.
Here are some possible reasons and tips for dealing with high blood sugar in the morning.
What causes high blood sugar in the morning?
There are actually 2 quite easy and logical conclusions about this dilemma:
- extensive carbohydrate-based meals late at night
- and inappropriate use of the prescribed therapy
However, there are other “hidden” potential triggers for high blood sugar in the morning:
- , dawn ”phenomenon and
- Somogyi effect
They are the result of specific reactions or physiological changes that occur in the body while you sleep.
What is the “dawn” phenomenon?
This phenomenon is caused by natural changes that occur in our bodies during sleep.
As we have already said, in all people the sugar in the morning is slightly higher, but in those who do not suffer from diabetes, the situation is completely different.
Then the body is able to overcome this situation, ie to properly control glucose levels.
For diabetics, the morning sugar peaks can be quite high, so it is necessary to consult a doctor and therapy.
Normally, the body needs little insulin while we sleep, so it produces less of this hormone, which has many other functions besides regulating blood glucose.
During the morning (and before waking up, around 5 am to 8 am), the body begins to produce glucose from glycogen stores.
This is due to the increased energy needs that arise with waking up.
At the same time, the body synthesizes glucagon and cortisol, two other hormones that lead to the growth of sugar.
Cortisol has the opposite function of insulin.
So, the decrease in insulin levels and the increase of the other 2 mentioned hormones, leads to sugar spikes in diabetics.
Additionally, this weakens the effect of diabetes medications over time (sleep lasts longer).
Especially if you do not take them according to a good schedule that should be agreed with your doctor.
In healthy people in this situation, an additional amount of insulin is secreted which will “neutralize” the negative effect of the other two hormones.
Diabetics, unfortunately, have insulin resistance, ie reduced insulin sensitivity.
It then inhibits its function even when it is in higher concentrations in the blood.
What is the Somogyi effect?
The second possible “hidden” cause of high blood sugar levels in the morning, which according to some research is less common than the “dawn” effect is the so-called. Somogyi effect.
The Somogyi effect (named after the doctor who first wrote about this theory) or also called reversible hyperglycemia.
If you do not eat dinner or have too much insulin, it is possible for your blood sugar to drop to a very low, dangerous level overnight (while you sleep).
In such a situation, the body will secrete hormones that will protect us from dangerously low glucose levels.
These hormones will act on the glucose reserves of the black tree, but in this situation, a little more glucose will be secreted than usual.
Unfortunately, in people with diabetes, this sequence of events does not go perfectly at all, so the liver “releases” more sugar than it needs.
At the end of the day, of course, leads to elevated glucose levels in the morning.
How do you know if it is the “dawn” phenomenon or the Somogyi effect?
To determine if any of these “hidden” factors raise your blood sugar significantly in the morning, you need to measure your glucose levels between 2 and 3 o’clock in the morning for several nights in a row.
If the sugar is consistently low during this period, it is probably the Somogy effect, but if the sugar is normal, then it is the “dawn” phenomenon.
Additionally, nightmares can sometimes occur as an indicator of the Somogy effect.
Other symptoms may include heavy sweating at night, restless sleep, and waking up without energy (all typical signs of low blood sugar).
How can we control the high blood sugar levels that occur in the morning?
When you and your attending physician determine how your blood sugar levels are moving overnight, he/she will give you appropriate tips on how to control your blood sugar in the morning.
The options available will depend on the cause of high blood sugar.
About the “dawn” phenomenon:
- Changing the time you take medication or changing your medication for your type of diabetes
- Eating lighter meals, in terms of calories and “carbohydrates”
- Increase the dose of medication you use in the morning
- If you are taking insulin, adjust the insulin pump to release more insulin in the morning
For the Somogyi effect:
- Reduction of therapy leading to extremely low glucose levels overnight
- Consume a snack later in the night
- Doing evening training a little earlier
- If you use insulin, set the insulin pump to release less insulin overnight
Conclusion
Sugar is a big problem for diabetics, especially in the morning. While it is slightly higher in normal people, it is much higher in diabetics.
The most common reasons are either consuming too many carbohydrates in the evening or failing to take therapy.
There are other reasons for the so-called “dawn effect” and “Somogyi effect”.
In order to be able to successfully solve these problems, the recommendations of the doctors, and the timely use of the therapy should be followed, as well as careful diet.
