Ask the Expert: How do I control my morning blood sugars?

What are morning levels supposed to be?

My dietician told me that the liver secrets glucose @" 3 am", (ball park figure) every morning because we havent eaten anything during the 4 hour period since our last "meal or snack" during that time our body decides we need more glucose in our systems .She suggested a snack before bed and it has worked for me. Most mornings my level is 100.

The article does not answer the question…How to control blood sugars in the morning. Even though everyone is different, surely there is something that has been tried that works for many people other than relying on meds. Yes, we can talk to our doctor all we want and they will medicate us to death…literally. And, there are many cases where that is the only option. So, is there anyone that would like to share what they do to keep their blood sugars down in the AM? ~Denise, 37 Diagnosed 8/98

My doctor told me, when testing in the morning, to do so when just waking and still lying in bed, to get a true reading. This makes sense with what I just read about your liver releasing glucose to wake up etc.

Hi. I have an A1c of 6% now with dieting alone. didn't want to take meds. But like this article says, my morning sugar is between 105-120. Very seldom does it go below that. But it goes so low during the rest of the day. I have tried everything to keep it low in the mornings. Water helps. But as I do not sleep well after 3 am; I wondered if that has anything to do with it?

Love this article. My blood sugar is usually 113-126 in the morning before I eat. Two hours later it might be 90-105. I guess I am doing something right. Any comments? I'm never quite sure.

Thank-you! I have been perplexed with this issue for 10 years! I have spoken with my Diabetes Specialist and he/she has never explained this to me…I can only hope that someone reads this LONG before I did and can find some stress relief…

I was told by a doctor in April, 2009, that I was a type 2 diabetic & I'm having a hard time adjusting to this problem. I'm trying to get a better understanding of the illness, it was a shock to me because I always tried to eat right but I'm realizing that it is more than that & I've been very worried because when I used to check my glucose in the morning it was always very high & it was frustrating to me so I stopped taking it in the mornings, I used to take it every day now I stopped because to me it was a downer, the lowest that it has been is 120 & I was told that it was too high even then, so I very seldom take it now. I know that I have to get it together & educate myself and now reading your answer to the question as to why your gluose is higher in the mornings give me some comfort.

Whether I am careful or not, in the a.m. my sugar is usually always 140-145 and two hrs after breakfast around 11:30 it goes down to 70-75 so I have to hurry and eat something. I take 2.5 mg. glibride daily. When I'm careful and then sometimes I go on a splurg and eat anything and everything. I am 75 and overweight

OK, well now I have eaten a bowl of Blue Bell Ice Cream, the regular kind, like chocolate at around 8 or 9p.m. or so and the next morning my blood sugar would be in the High 90's. What give s on that if my sugar is supposed to be high in the morning anyway? I still don't get the who idea of testing 2 hr. after eating, I never can remember to do that. I most of the time just check when I first get up and used the toilet and then do the hand washing in med. hot to worm water and then test. I'm 61 going on 62 this Dec. 4Th. and have had type 2 ever since July 2005 and my A1c has been always in the 5.6 to 5.7 range so I just don't know if I'm truly in control or not cause I eat just about anything I wont at most any time. Let me know something please.
Thanks.
Carlton

what i don't understand is when i eat what is called a high protein meal for breakfast - eggs, ham, cheese, etc. - my sugar can be as low as 140 before I eat & as high as 275 when I check 2 hrs. later. If I have the same meal 7 days straight, 6 of those days I am over the limit. I am on humalog, but after a while my body will build up a resistance to that. a little help??

i, too, have morning sugars 165 - 240 and afternoon sugars 260-350. I take 1000mg metformin twice daily. is it time for insulin?

My morning sugars have been any where from 162 up to 232. I just can't get them back downunder 120. I want taking Metformin. I had to stop cause I had diarreah and an upset tummy all the time. I couldn't go any where. If I had to I could not eat. My sugars were all over the place. I am on Actos, but I have an appointment on Tuesday with my doctor. Thanks for the information. It really helps.

This is a very imformative News Article. It puts me more at ease about my own high morning sugars

Thank You, this explains what wasn't told to me before, even though I helped my father and a husband though diabeties and now myself.

I have been strugling with high morning sugar for about 4 months. I have tried about everything and don't really understand why it raises around 50 points during the night. I have talked to several people and it seems that I am higher than most. Is this a correct or is this about what others are experiencing?

Great point to be made! If we really want to take action WE have to make this happen and that's controlling what we consume in the evening OR if having issues even though not eatting thing as you mentioned…speaking w/ your Endo/MD…I agree…Thanks Sheila