I borrowed the following from Roche Diabetes (make the Accu-Chek meters) - they have explained it rather well:

Our bodies are finely-tuned machines. In the morning when it is time to wake up, our body knows to release cortisol, a hormone that is released in response to stress.

Back in the day it was vital for helping us escape from a chase with a tiger, but today it helps us get out of bed.

That release of cortisol triggers an increase of glucose (sugar) production by the liver. Again… read more