Why Is My Blood Glucose High in the Morning?

Patients with diabetes may develop high blood glucose levels in the morning. Elevated morning blood sugar may result from the dawn phenomenon or the Somogyi effect. Doctors may recommend several ways to correct high morning blood glucose levels.

High Blood Sugar

• According to the Cleveland Clinic, people with diabetes can have high blood sugar levels that may lead to complications such as kidney, eye and heart disorders if elevated blood sugar levels are not treated. Excess sugar, or glucose, accumulates in a patient’s blood if the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or if a patient’s insulin does not properly reduce blood glucose levels.

Dawn Phenomenon

• A dawn phenomenon is a natural process that increases blood glucose levels after 3 a.m. and may last until 8 a.m.

Somogyi Effect

• The Somogyi effect can cause high morning blood sugar levels as a rebound effect from low blood glucose levels that occurred earlier during the night.

Diagnosis

• Patients may determine the cause of high morning blood sugar levels if they measure their blood sugar some time during the hour after 2 a.m. Normal or high readings would indicate a dawn phenomenon and low readings would indicate a Somogyi effect.

Treatment

• Doctors may treat high morning blood glucose by having a patient change the amount of insulin, type of insulin or time that insulin is taken each evening. Physicians may also recommend that a patient eat a lighter breakfast or increase his morning insulin dose.