@A DiabetesTeam Member

Yes - it can be normal

(Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators) mmols) is a "safe" fasting number for a Diabetic. Any number below 126 (7.0) and above 72 (4.0) reduces our risk of Cardiovascular disease which is Type 2's biggest enemy

(but any number above 99/5.5 is a "diabetic number")

What causes our fasting numbers to be above normal is a more complex question and a little different for each of us - we have a metabolic disorder and each have sometimes unique deficiencies that effect our fasting numbers.

What it is NOT is what you ate yesterday - blood sugar from what we eat are called prandial sugars. The sugars we see while fasting/sleeping are called hepatic sugars.

They are produced, stored and released by our body in response to a few hormones.

When we are sleeping or not eating for a period of 5 or 6 hours or more our body still needs sugar to function.

Our liver stores sugar for those times. When a given hormone "makes the call" the liver releases sugar. But it doesn't know we have diabetes and sometimes overdoes it resulting in "above normal" blood sugar levels

In the case of Morning numbers roughly two hours before we wake up (full consciousness) our bodies start to prepare - it has to speed up our heart a bit, increase lung function and circulation, wake up the organs and the brain. That all takes "fuel" since we were in a metabolically slow/unconscious state.

A couple hormones are released which tell the Liver "we need some power" (sugar) and it turns on the taps. This is known as Dawn Phenomena or Dawn Effect.

(our numbers stay high because we are either a little insulin deficient or a little resistant, or both, and can't metabolize all the sugar that was released so have "leftovers")

If we get a solid 6 or 7 hours of sleep the effect is less than if we have a night of broken sleep (multiple hormone releases each time we wake or toss result in more sugar in our system)

That's "what" happens and what drives our morning numbers

What can WE do?

Get a good night sleep, get some exercise (helps regulate those hormones), lose weight if necessary (reduces our resistance to burning up that extra sugar), eat regular meals (regulates metabolism)

If that is not enough then take Metformin - it's sole purpose is to restrict how much sugar the liver can release

If that's not enough then add a night time insulin

But not having a cookie before bed will be of no help....

PS - great "non-diabetic" A1C but you are seeing the limitation of A1C - yours, like mine says "clinically not diabetic" but our Fasting Numbers say "we are" - that's Diabetes

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A Diabete...

Very helpful our dear team member Graham may thanks for the detailed info, doctors do not explain in detail like you do. 🤗

May they just do not have the time. 🤔

This is most helpful and very good explanation of things. I'm still learning and guess I will the rest of my life. My overall goal is to maintain my new weight through proper, healthy eating, portion control, and exercise that I hope will all result in keeping my blood sugar levels and A1c at their new much lower levels all without the need for medication and not developing any serious complications or medical problems. Only time will tell. Thanks for your response. Much appreciated!!!