Night time hyperglycemia is often triggered from many things. Sometimes have a really active day or exercising close to bedtime. Doing a lot of activity during the day can decrease your blood glucose and cause a hyperglycemic reaction during sleep. Consuming alcoholic beverages close to your bed time can also cause your blood glucose levels to decrease, therefore causing a hyperglycemic reaction. The liver is trying to get rid of the alcohol in your blood stream instead of producing glucose.
It is also important for you to keep in mind that fast-acting insulin lasts for about 5 to 6 hrs. Sometimes if you have a late dinner and go to sleep a couple of hours later, your blood sugar level may be normal. However, since the insulin you took before you went to sleep your blood sugar level is still working in your body and cause your blood glucose levels to drop during the night.
Signs that you have experienced hyperglycemia throughout the night are, sweating, waking up with a headache, and having nightmares. On your first reading of the day you may wake up with a high blood sugar level. This happens because the body is trying to recuperate from the overnight low. If you are feeling an accelerated heart beat and anxiety this could be signs of hyperglycemia.
Before you go to bed, consider all of the causes of nighttime hypoglycemia, and if you think you’re at risk, have a snack before heading to sleep. If you use an insulin pump, one option is to reduce your basal rate. If you find yourself experiencing nighttime lows often, you may want to consider purchasing a continuous glucose monitor device (CGM), which alerts you when you’re experiencing low blood glucose or a high. It may also be a good idea to speak with your doctor about adjusting your insulin regimen.