Fasting sugar is high primarily because of insufficient insulin levels overnight, leading to a rise in blood glucose.
Understanding the Mechanism
When you're fasting, ideally your blood sugar levels should remain relatively stable due to the continuous release of a background level of insulin, often called basal insulin. However, if this basal insulin is inadequate, your liver may release stored glucose into the bloodstream, causing your fasting blood sugar to increase.
Why Insulin Levels Might Drop Overnight
Based on the information provided, there are two main reasons why insulin levels may drop too low overnight:
- Insufficient Basal Insulin: If you use an insulin pump, your settings might not be providing enough basal insulin overnight. This means there isn't sufficient insulin to counteract the glucose released by your liver.
- Low Long-Acting Insulin Dose: If you use long-acting insulin, the dose may be too low. The insufficient insulin prevents proper glucose regulation during the night.
The Impact of Low Insulin
As the provided reference highlights: If your insulin level falls too low overnight, your blood glucose rises. This is because insulin is essential for allowing glucose to enter cells for energy. When there is not enough insulin, glucose remains in the bloodstream, leading to hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, which is indicated by high fasting sugar levels.
Practical Steps
If you experience high fasting sugar levels, it's crucial to:
- Review Insulin Doses: Consult with your healthcare provider or diabetes educator to review and adjust your basal insulin settings or long-acting insulin dose.
- Monitor Blood Sugar: Regularly monitor your blood sugar levels, especially before bed and upon waking, to identify patterns and better understand how your body responds to insulin.
- Consider Other Factors: While insufficient insulin is a leading cause, other factors like stress, illness, and certain medications can also contribute to high fasting blood sugar.
- Keep a detailed log: Track your food, exercise, and insulin doses, to help you and your provider identify potential causes of elevated fasting sugars.
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| High Fasting Blood Sugar | Insufficient insulin overnight. | Adjust basal insulin or long-acting insulin doses with a healthcare professional. |
| High Fasting Blood Sugar | Liver producing too much glucose because of insufficient insulin. | Adjust basal insulin or long-acting insulin doses with a healthcare professional. |
In summary, high fasting sugar is often due to inadequate basal insulin levels overnight, highlighting the importance of appropriate insulin management.
