Everyone’s body has different levels of hormones throughout the day. There is a natural shift in hormones, particularly cortisol, growth hormone, glucagon and epinephrine, that occur as morning approaches. The release of these hormones trigger the release of glucose from your liver. In most people, the release of glucose is lessened by a simultaneous release of insulin. However in people with diabetes the release of these hormones can increase insulin resistance, causing your blood sugar levels to rise in the morning. This is called the dawn phenomenon.
If you have consistently elevated blood sugar in the morning despite taking your medications as prescribed, contact your doctor to determine if you have the dawn phenomenon or if there’s another reason for an elevated morning blood sugar reading.