It's great that you're monitoring your blood glucose levels. The variation in your morning readings, despite consistent eating habits, can be influenced by a few factors. Even though you're not eating after 6 p.m., several processes in your body can affect your blood sugar overnight:
1. **Dawn Phenomenon**: This is a common cause of higher morning blood sugar levels. In the early morning hours (around 2 a.m. to 8 a.m.), your body releases hormones like cortisol and growth hormone to prepare you to wake up. These hormones can cause the liver to release glucose, leading to a higher blood sugar level.
2. **Somogyi Effect (Rebound Hyperglycemia)**: If your blood sugar drops too low overnight, your body can respond by releasing glucose from the liver, causing a rebound high in the morning. You might not be aware of the low sugar levels while sleeping, but it can result in higher blood sugars when you wake up.
3. **Carbohydrate Intake the Night Before**: What and how much you eat before 6 p.m. could affect your morning readings. If your dinner or snacks were high in carbohydrates or you ate a large meal, your body might take longer to process the glucose, leading to higher blood sugar the next morning.
4. **Physical Activity**: If you were particularly active during the day or not as active, this can impact your glucose metabolism during the night.
5. **Sleep Quality and Stress**: Poor sleep or high stress can increase cortisol levels, which might lead to elevated morning blood sugar levels.
Given your readings are mostly within the 6-7 mmol/L range, this is generally within a normal or slightly elevated fasting range, depending on your specific health goals or any underlying conditions like diabetes. If the variations concern you, tracking other factors like sleep, stress, and meal composition might help identify patterns.
