Can My Dinner Affect My Morning Blood Glucose?

Q. I have type 2 diabetes and control it with diet and exercise. My blood sugar is 130-142 mg/dl in the morning. What can I eat in the evening to get it lower in the morning? The rest of the day is fine: 100-104 mg/dl before meals and 130-135 mg/dl after meals.

A. Fasting blood glucose is largely influenced by the liver's overnight activity. The liver converts stored glucose into usable blood glucose during the night to keep the body from developing hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, while asleep. In type 2 diabetes, however, the liver tends to release too much glucose into the bloodstream overnight. This can result in elevated fasting blood glucose. Following a carbohydrate- and portion-controlled meal plan and staying physically active are smart things to do to manage diabetes -- good effort on your part! But type 2 diabetes is progressive, meaning your body can't efficiently use the insulin it makes, and it produces less and less insulin over time. You may need medicine to better use your body's own insulin or to replace insulin it no longer makes.

The medication metformin is now recommended on diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, in addition to using food and exercise, to keep blood glucose in control. Read our guide on oral medications for people with diabetes to learn more about metformin and other drugs.

Virginia Zamudio Lange, R.N., M.S.N., CDE, is a member of Diabetic Living's editorial advisory board.