The blood sugar or blood glucose in the human body is normally kept within a fairly narrow range by the hormones insulin and glucagon. When there are problems such as diabetes or if a diabetic's medications are not working properly, then blood sugar readings can vary.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. It is secreted by the pancreas after carbohydrates are eaten. Insulin helps the body's cells absorb sugar. As the sugar in the blood is absorbed by the cells, the blood sugar level falls and glucagon, another hormone, is secreted by the liver to make sure the sugar level does not get too low.
Diagnosing Diabetes
If your blood sugar is high in the morning and you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, see a health care professional. One of the tests used to diagnose diabetes is the fasting blood sugar; your blood is drawn after a 12-hour period in which you have had no food and only water to drink. According to the Mayo Clinic, if the test results show a reading of 100 to 125 mg/dL, you have pre-diabetes; if the results are 126 mg/dL or higher, you will be diagnosed as a diabetic.
If You're Diabetic
You may also experience a high blood sugar in the morning if you are already diabetic and there is a problem with your medication or if you have experienced the "dawn phenomenon." The "dawn effect" or "dawn phenomenon" is an abnormal increase in blood sugar, usually between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. According to Mayo Clinic endocrinologist Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D., the "dawn effect" may be due to the release of hormones during the night such as cortisol, glucagon and epinephrine. These hormones may increase the body's resistance to insulin and cause the blood sugar to rise. Other reasons for a high morning blood sugar if you are already diabetic include not taking enough insulin the night before, an incorrect dose of medications or having a carbohydrate snack at bedtime.
Considerations and Warnings
If the high morning blood sugar is more than a one-time thing, Dr. Collazo-Clavell says you may need to test your blood sugar in the middle of the night, and based on the results of that test, change your diabetes management strategies. For example, you may need to skip the bedtime snack or take a different insulin dose. But before you make any changes to your regimen, consult with a health care professional.
References
- MayoClinic.com; What is the "dawn phenomenon" that some people with diabetes experience? Can anything be done about it?; Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D.; November 2009
- American Diabetes Association; Living With Diabetes: Insulin Basics; 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Diabetes: Symptoms; Mayo Clinic Staff; March 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Diabetes: Tests and diagnosis; Mayo Clinic Staff; March 2011
