How Diabetics Should Fuel in the Morning

A savory breakfast is usually a better choice over options that are high in carbs.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, pre-diabetes, or insulin resistance, you may have noticed that your fasting blood sugars are usually higher than they are throughout the day. This is likely a result of dawn phenomenon. All bodies will experience a rise in glucose in the wee hours of the morning, somewhere between 3:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., as a result of hormones being released into the body to help it have enough energy to wake up for the day. That is why people whose bodies don't make enough insulin or don't properly use the insulin their body does make should avoid adding additional carbs (glucose) to their system and have a low-carb breakfast instead.

Ideas for a low-carb breakfast include:

• Eggs cooked in coconut oil or butter with slices of avocado and a couple of turkey breakfast sausage links

• Plain Greek yogurt sweetened with an erythritol and stevia sweetener blend, topped with 1 cup of strawberries, and a small handful of seeds or nuts

• A couple of hard-boiled eggs, lean deli meat wrapped around a mozzarella cheese stick and paired with mini cucumbers and baby carrots

Fueling your body well in the morning is crucial to managing blood sugars.

It is important to remember that you want to always fuel your body with breakfast to avoid your blood sugars continuing to rise. This will result in more balanced and steady blood sugars throughout the day.

Not only will you set the tone for the rest of your day, but your metabolism will also thank you!