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Morning Blood Sugar

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Posted 2/10/2023 12:57 AM (GMT -8)
Hello, I am new to this forum and have come for education. I have type two diabetes. I need your best advice, based on experience, on morning blood sugar because it is kicking my butt. Researching on the internet there is so much conflicting and everyone with the new magic treatment is vying for your attention. I have come to the conclusion that I just don’t understand morning readings. I can go to bed with 109 and wake up with 130. I just need good information I can trust.
Posted 2/10/2023 8:06 AM (GMT -8)
Welcome to the Diabetes Forum, Working on It. I understand your frustration totally. Our blood sugar is affected by several things: food, time, amount of insulin our bodies is still producing, physical activity, stress and illness and sometimes certain medications that we're taking for other reasons.

One of the causes of waking up to higher blood sugar is that the body wants to get moving and needs energy. Glucose in the blood stream gives us this energy but if we don't use it right away, it stays higher. You might want to read about 'dawn phenomenon'. Also, please read the link in my signature for more information about blood sugar.

I am also type two (it runs in my family) and have been on metformin for several years. I've been able to stay on metformin because I eat a low-carb plan and try to get exercise which also helps control blood sugar,

I'm glad you posted. Can you write a little more about yourself? Are you on diabetes meds? What do you eat?
Posted 2/10/2023 7:54 PM (GMT -8)
Hello Lanie, Thank you for your response. I am 63and although diabetes runs in my Mom’s side of the family I am the only one with type 2. I eat fairly clean. I avoid simple carbs and processed foods. I don’t like fizzy drinks so soda is not an issue. My family is a bunch of foodies so cooking is our jam. I do have a desk job (I own a bookkeeping company) and of course don’t get enough exercise. I am a hiker and kayaker but that is mostly weekends. I am working on a new morning routine. Get up, walk the dogs, 1/2 hour stretching and weights and 1/2 hour meditation. It is not a habit yet so I simply strive for consistency. I have a nutritionist I work with and we had an interesting conversation about the role adequate sleep and water consumption have in balancing blood sugar. The thing that surprises me is how little the people who diagnose diabetes know about balancing blood sugar. Somewhere in my 40’s I started to develop food allergies. I am now allergic to shellfish, alcohol and lactose intolerant. Sigh 😔. I am overweight and working on that as well. I do have a Libre meter and I just want to understand how this works. I have been taking Metforman for several months and hate it.
Posted 2/11/2023 6:59 PM (GMT -8)
Metformin is usually the first medication given when diagnosed when blood sugar is not out of control or exceedingly high. The thing about metformin is to take it with food and to make sure you don't eat carbs or greasy food because the combination will cause stomach upset.

I am sorry about the food allergies! I now drink almond/coconut milk for calcium instead of milk. I buy the no-sugar-added and they have virtually no carbs but they do have good calcium levels. Can you eat yogurt?

The only carbs I get are from vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, bell peppers, zucchini, cabbage, spinach... I recently found some wraps made with eggs and/or cauliflower under the brand 'Crepini'. It's in the refrigerated section in the cheese and deli department at our Kroger. Zero carbs so that's a great alternative to lettuce wraps.

I understand about getting onto a routine. I was thrown off nearly all my routines when my husband retired and then when Covid appeared soon after. Then our weather has been awful, both too hot in the summer and then too cold/rainy/icy this winter. I do use hand weights and do exercises at home but not as long as I should.

Make sure you read the link in my signature for lots of information about blood sugar. Also, a book I highly recommend is Diabetes Solution by Richard Bernstein, M.D. He himself is a type 1. It's insightful and in depth.
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