Blood Sugar: Hidden Causes of High Blood Sugar Levels in the Morning
By: Charlotte W. Heath
Tags: Blood Sugar, Health, Fitness, Diabetes, Diabetes Solutions

High blood sugar in the morning may be caused by the Somogyi effect, a condition also called “rebound hyperglycemia.” It also may be caused by dawn phenomenon, which is the end result of a combination of natural body changes.

What causes high blood sugar levels in the morning?

Commonly known reasons why your blood sugar may be high in the morning include high-carb bedtime snacks and not enough diabetes medications.

Yet two lesser-known reasons may be causing your morning blood sugar woes: the dawn phenomenon and the Somogyi effect. These causes of high morning blood sugar levels are a result of body changes and reactions that happen while you are sleeping.

What is the dawn phenomenon?

Your body uses glucose (sugar) for energy and it is important to have enough extra energy to be able to wake up in the morning. So for a period of time in the early morning hours, usually between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m., your body starts churning out stored glucose to prepare for the upcoming day.

At the same time, your body releases hormones that reduce your sensitivity to insulin.

What is the Somogyi effect?

A second possible cause of high blood sugar levels in the morning is the Somogyi effect, sometimes also called rebound hyperglycemia. It was named after the doctor who first wrote about it.

If your blood sugar drops too low in the middle of the night while you are sleeping, your body will release hormones in an attempt to “rescue” you from the dangerously low blood sugar.

How is it determined if the dawn phenomenon or Somogyi effect is causing the high blood sugar levels?

Your doctor will likely ask you to check your blood sugar levels between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. for several nights in a row. If your blood sugar is consistently low during this time, the Somogyi effect is suspected. If the blood sugar is normal during this time period, the dawn phenomenon is more likely to be the cause.

>> Are You Struggling To Manage Blood Sugar And Your Weight?

I would recommend you check out this Brand-New Formula Supports Healthy Blood that Sugar Levels by clicking here

How can high blood sugar levels in the morning be controlled?

Once you and your doctor determine how your blood sugar levels are behaving at night, he or she can advise you about the changes you need to make to better control them. Options that your doctor may discuss depend on the cause of the morning high blood sugars.

For dawn phenomenon:

Changing the timing or type of your diabetes medications

Eating a lighter breakfast

Increasing your morning dose of diabetes medication

If you take insulin, switching to an insulin pump and programming it to release additional insulin in the morning

For Somogyi effect:

Decreasing the dose of diabetes medications that are causing overnight lows

Adding a bedtime snack that includes carbs

Doing evening exercise earlier

If you take insulin, switching to an insulin pump and programming it to release less insulin overnight

>> Are You Struggling To Manage Blood Sugar And Your Weight?

I would recommend you check out this Brand-New Formula Supports Healthy Blood that Sugar Levels by clicking here