### Understanding and Managing High Morning Blood Sugar Levels If you have diabetes, waking up with high blood sugar levels can be frustrating. Here are some common reasons and solutions to help you manage this issue. #### Common Causes 1. **Dawn Phenomenon**: This occurs when your body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m., causing your liver to release glucose, which raises your blood sugar levels. 2. **Somogyi Effect**: If you take insulin or other blood sugar-lowering medications in the evening, you might experience low blood sugar at night. Your body then releases stress hormones to counteract this, leading to high blood sugar in the morning. 3. **Waning Insulin Levels**: Your insulin levels might decrease overnight, causing your blood sugar to rise by morning. #### Finding the Cause To determine the cause, you may need to check your blood sugar levels in the middle of the night. Using a continuous glucose monitor can help identify patterns without disturbing your sleep. #### Treatment Strategies 1. **Adjust Your Insulin Pump**: If you use an insulin pump, you might need to reprogram it to manage morning highs. 2. **Check Blood Sugar Before Bed**: Avoid going to bed with high blood sugar levels. 3. **Take Basal Insulin**: Consult your doctor about taking basal insulin at bedtime. 4. **Adjust Medication**: If your high morning blood sugar is due to the Somogyi effect, you might need to change your evening medication dose. 5. **Healthy Pre-Bed Snack**: A snack with protein and carbohydrates can help stabilize your blood sugar levels overnight. 6. **Increase Physical Activity**: Regular exercise can help manage your blood sugar levels more effectively. By identifying the cause and working with your healthcare team, you can take steps to manage your morning blood sugar levels and improve your overall diabetes management.