04/27/2019
Managing Morning Blood Sugar Highs: How to Treat the Top 3 Causes
1. The Dawn Phenomenon
2. The Somogyi Effect
3. Waning Insulin
Finding the Cause of Your Morning Blood Sugar High
Though the three most likely causes of high morning blood sugar can all be treated, first you have to know which one is the source of your condition. "If you’re not sure, you might have to take the somewhat inconvenient step of waking up to check your blood sugar levels in the middle of your sleep pattern (for example at 3 a.m. if you go to bed at 11 p.m.)" suggests Amori. Here’s why:
-Consistent blood sugar from bedtime until about 3 a.m. and then a rise suggests the dawn phenomenon.
-Low blood sugar at 3 a.m. suggests the Somogyi effect.
-Blood sugar that increases from bedtime to 3 a.m. and then is even higher when you wake is probably due to waning insulin.
Treating High Morning Blood Sugar:
A blood sugar high in the morning "can be tough to treat,” acknowledges Amori, but with the help of your medical team, you can try different approaches. Talk with your doctor about these strategies:
-Adjust your pump
-Check blood sugar before bed.
-Take basal insulin.
-Adjust medication.
-Have a healthy pre-bed snack.
-Increase physical activity.
High morning blood sugar levels are a concern, especially if they happen regularly and seem to make it hard to meet your blood sugar goals. But taking steps to address these morning highs can improve your overall diabetes management and stave off diabetes-related complications.