What’s happening in your body
In the early hours of the morning, your body releases hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and growth hormone to prepare you to wake up and start your day. These hormones signal your liver to release stored glucose into your bloodstream for quick energy, kind of like your body’s natural alarm clock. As a result, your glucose readings might look higher than expected when you first wake up, even if you haven’t eaten anything.
Why it varies from person to person
The size of your morning rise depends on factors such as:
Your sleep quality and duration
Stress or elevated cortisol levels
Meal timing (especially late-night eating)
Physical activity the previous day
Your individual insulin sensitivity
Small, short-lived morning rises are completely normal and part of a healthy metabolism.
💡 Tip:
Try going for a short morning walk or drinking water before coffee to help your body naturally bring glucose back down. Light movement signals your muscles to use glucose for energy and can help smooth out that early rise.