Hello everyone, I’ve bought a blood glucose testing machine and my results have been 6.8 to 6.9 for a week first thing in the morning when I get up having had no food. Is this something I should be worried about, I’ve looked at the normal ranges but wondered if I should see the GP?
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Blood sugar query
- Thread starter DS50
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Toucan
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Hello @DS50 and welcome to our forum.
The readings you are getting are well within the acceptable range.
If you are finding that they are a little higher than your day time readings, then this could be due to something called Dawn phenomena, which is not a problem. Here is some information about it Dawn Phenomenon
Also if you would like to know more about the range of readings that some members get have a look at https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/group-7-day-waking-average
I hope you find the forum useful, and we will always try to answer any questions, or just let us know how things are going for you.
The readings you are getting are well within the acceptable range.
If you are finding that they are a little higher than your day time readings, then this could be due to something called Dawn phenomena, which is not a problem. Here is some information about it Dawn Phenomenon
Also if you would like to know more about the range of readings that some members get have a look at https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/group-7-day-waking-average
I hope you find the forum useful, and we will always try to answer any questions, or just let us know how things are going for you.
Inka
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Hello @DS50 🙂
Have you been diagnosed as pre-diabetic? If not and you’re worried you might be, speak to your GP and ask for an HbA1C test which will show your average blood sugar over 3 months. This is a diagnostic tool, a blood glucose meter isn’t really. It has a margin of error and is best suited as a basic monitoring device for people who’ve already been diagnosed.
Have you been diagnosed as pre-diabetic? If not and you’re worried you might be, speak to your GP and ask for an HbA1C test which will show your average blood sugar over 3 months. This is a diagnostic tool, a blood glucose meter isn’t really. It has a margin of error and is best suited as a basic monitoring device for people who’ve already been diagnosed.
Inka
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Ok 🙂 Well as you’ve bought the meter, you could do a few more tests to get an idea of what’s happening. You could then mention these results to your GP if you’re still concerned.
A good time to test is after a meal - 2 hours after the start of the meal. So, test before you eat, then test again 2hrs after your first bite of the meal.
What symptoms have you had? (If you don’t mind saying)
A good time to test is after a meal - 2 hours after the start of the meal. So, test before you eat, then test again 2hrs after your first bite of the meal.
What symptoms have you had? (If you don’t mind saying)
Docb
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Hi @DS50 and welcome to the forum. If you read around the forum you will find it often said that interpretation of individual numbers (unless they are very high or very low) is fraught with difficulty. Everybody's blood glucose goes up and down through the day as the glucose generated from food and the glucose produced by the liver is balanced by the pancreas producing the insulin which allows the body to absorb it. It's a far from perfect system. When working well it will keep the blood glucose above 4 and below 10 with the measured value at any time depending on a whole range of factors some of which you can control and some of which you cannot.
It's for that reason that any the sort of numbers you see quoted should be treated as guides. My thought for those new to blood glucose monitoring is to take measurements for a week or two, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the evening, sometimes before and then a couple of hours after a meal. That way you can begin to see the patterns in how your system behaves.
As @Inka has said, diagnosis is made from an HbA1c measurement done in the lab from a blood sample taken from a vein. If you are worried, then see your GP who will arrange for one to be done. It is unwise to make any judgements from spot readings, unless of course, they are very high (teens and above) or very low (under 4) and even then, the first thing that would be done would be an HbA1c measurement.
It's for that reason that any the sort of numbers you see quoted should be treated as guides. My thought for those new to blood glucose monitoring is to take measurements for a week or two, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the evening, sometimes before and then a couple of hours after a meal. That way you can begin to see the patterns in how your system behaves.
As @Inka has said, diagnosis is made from an HbA1c measurement done in the lab from a blood sample taken from a vein. If you are worried, then see your GP who will arrange for one to be done. It is unwise to make any judgements from spot readings, unless of course, they are very high (teens and above) or very low (under 4) and even then, the first thing that would be done would be an HbA1c measurement.
Thank you that’s really useful. Can you recommend a tracking app if not I’ll just use a pen and paper
Docb
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I use a note book and an old fashioned fountain pen - it just sits alongside my meter. Periodically I transfer information to a spreadsheet when i want to look at something in particular.
By the way, are you a lady or a gent? If you are a gent then needing the loo several times in the night maybe something you should mention to your GP - it might have something to do with things other than diabetes.
By the way, are you a lady or a gent? If you are a gent then needing the loo several times in the night maybe something you should mention to your GP - it might have something to do with things other than diabetes.
Inka
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Not good. That’s obviously more than usual. Even if you decide not to pursue an HbA1C test, I’d speak to your GP about that as there might well be some help available, and, if it’s not diabetes, you should certainly get help finding out the cause and improving things.
As you’ve said that, I’d do the ‘after meal testing’ I described above after your evening meal.
Docb
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Then you can rule out prostate issues! Still might be worth checking in with your GP though.
Inka
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It could be hormonal possibly? Until reading comments here, I had no idea female hormone levels could affect the bladder. I think it was @rebrascora who said something about this.
I’m not saying it is that. Just offering another possibility to think about/rule out.
ColinUK
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If not then @DS50 can I be your manager?!
As others have said monitoring your BG levels over time is key. You asked about apps to log the readings with and many of us use MySugr which I hated when I started to use it but now realise it's actually really rather good. Simple to use and gives clear results. Also exports data to the Apple Health app so it's all stored in one place on the phone and therefore easy to share with the GP or Diabetes Nurse when asked.
As you've joined the forum I'd also say explore. Ask questions. Nothing is a stupid question to ask.
rebrascora
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As a diabetic symptom, weeing multiple times through the night (and day) is usually a consequence of a raging thirst which causes you to drink a lot more to help flush high glucose levels out of your body. Certainly, it was blatantly obvious that the weeing due to my diabetes was because I was constantly drinking water to quench that perpetual thirst.
That said, I had been getting up to go to the loo through the night before I got diabetes once or sometimes twice a night, which was not diabetes related and I just kind of accepted it was a natural progression of age.... which it probably is. It wasn't until a year ago, (my diabetes was reasonably under control so no thirst and weeing due to that) I asked to go on HRT after battling hot flushes for about 5 years, that it all miraculously stopped and even though I have a glass of water before bed, I sleep right through without a pit stop and I'm not even desperate the next morning when I wake up. This change occurred as soon as I started using HRT patches and I wonder if the HRT has given my bladder some elasticity back. I do have to "go" 3 or 4 times on a morning before I leave the house, but then I drink more water and coffee in the morning, but having a proper night's sleep without having to get up for the loo has been a huge and unforeseen bonus as well as not getting the hot flushes. It really has been a massive improvement in quality of life and I can manage on half a patch every few days instead of the full dose so it lasts longer. HRT can be difficult to source and I have to ring round the local pharmacies to see which, if any, can fill my repeat prescription, so making it last twice as long is worth doing if you can get away with it.
That said, I had been getting up to go to the loo through the night before I got diabetes once or sometimes twice a night, which was not diabetes related and I just kind of accepted it was a natural progression of age.... which it probably is. It wasn't until a year ago, (my diabetes was reasonably under control so no thirst and weeing due to that) I asked to go on HRT after battling hot flushes for about 5 years, that it all miraculously stopped and even though I have a glass of water before bed, I sleep right through without a pit stop and I'm not even desperate the next morning when I wake up. This change occurred as soon as I started using HRT patches and I wonder if the HRT has given my bladder some elasticity back. I do have to "go" 3 or 4 times on a morning before I leave the house, but then I drink more water and coffee in the morning, but having a proper night's sleep without having to get up for the loo has been a huge and unforeseen bonus as well as not getting the hot flushes. It really has been a massive improvement in quality of life and I can manage on half a patch every few days instead of the full dose so it lasts longer. HRT can be difficult to source and I have to ring round the local pharmacies to see which, if any, can fill my repeat prescription, so making it last twice as long is worth doing if you can get away with it.
That’s a really interesting point I have started HRT about a year ago. I’ve had some great advice I will keep a BG record for another week too.
rebrascora
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If you have been on HRT for a year and not seen any improvement then I guess it is unlikely to improve your night time pit stop problem now which is a shame. The threshold for glucose being removed through the kidneys is usually considered to be consistently above a BG of 10 but usually mid teens and above is when you will notice it.
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