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Dexcom G6 and paracetamol

PhoebeC

PhoebeC

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi folks,

Had a tooth our today and in a little bit of pain, they advised to take the usual ibuprofen and paracetamol. In the past when the G6 has given the error message, unbale to read and wait 3 hours, their support staff have always asked if I have taken any paracetamol.

So I thought I would check and I have now found this Dexcom link that states paracetamol/ acetaminophen can impact readings if a higher dose is taken or in older versions. With Dexcom asking me this is it sometimes an issue with other versions? Have you noticed?

https://www.dexcom.com/interference
 
The pain has already increased my blood glucose.

And my Dexcom is saying 18 and my blood sugar is 13 so these are already out.
 
I use the G7 and take paracetamol when needed @PhoebeC I’ve not noticed any problems. I take the minimum I need and for the minimum length of time, which I’d do anyway, Dexcom or not. I’d guess it’s more likely to be the stress and pain causing the higher sugars. Last time I went, my blood sugar 16.5 afterwards, purely through stress and pain.
 
Whatever is going on it’s thrown my readings why out. It is about 4-5mmol out Dexcom to blood finger and I am usually okay, so I have taken it off auto HCL mode and gone into manual which I could do without.

I always follow the guidance, just checking if there is any impact, at the moment I need the ibuprofen and paracetamol, for the pain so will take them even if there is an impact.
 
We’ve been asked that when we’ve had issues too but usually our issues have been failed sensors not higher readings but it is a “known” thing that is can mean the Dexcom reads higher. It’s always good to double check with a finger prick if you think your readings are out.
I hope your tooth settles down (or lack of tooth).
 
i Don’t use the same sensors @PhoebeC but do have the same warnings for mine about when taking paracetamol. I take paracetamol as necessary and I am aware that the sensor tends to read lower than my BG so like you if things are extreme I will switch to manual from HCL. As you say it is not what you want to do when you are ill/in pain.
 
Trips to the dentist ALWAYS raise my BG even if I’m going for a check up! It’s one visit I’d rather not have to do at all! Have had a tooth abscess lately, which needed antibiotics and pain relief, in my case just paracetamol as I can’t take anti inflammatory meds. After the initial surge in BG due to stress, they settled to normal, so no effect. I think it is when the dose is higher than the recommended one that problems with CGMs occur.
 
Chelseagirl said:
Trips to the dentist ALWAYS raise my BG even if I’m going for a check up! It’s one visit I’d rather not have to do at all! Have had a tooth abscess lately, which needed antibiotics and pain relief, in my case just paracetamol as I can’t take anti inflammatory meds. After the initial surge in BG due to stress, they settled to normal, so no effect. I think it is when the dose is higher than the recommended one that problems with CGMs occur.
Click to expand...
This is the first trip to the dentist since I have had diabetes (20ish years) where they didn't make me feel like a horrible slug on the floor. I find they never understand diabetes at all, and that they cannot see that 'I take as good as care of my teeth as I can but diabetes always top trumps teeth. I felt respected and cared for, I actually will send them a card to say thanks as I believe how they treated me deserves credit. It was NHS as my private dentist couldn't do the removal with how broken it was.

When I explained I was type 1 diabetic she said her cousin and a close friend are type 1 also. That sometimes her cousin needs to wake in the night and drink a coke and she said he never brushes his teeth then, I said exactly, its bad enough having to eat or drink something when you are half asleep and want to get back to sleep quickly. I loose count of how many times I brush my teeth and the low alarm goes off 🙄

Anyway my sensor is a little out again this morning, not sure what that's about, so back in manual, it was okay overnight as it was in range, I tested twice in the night. So back in manual, I do wish there was a way to void out this data as 2 days now will show higher, lower TIR when actually based on blood I have been in my range.
 
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