Finger prick question

[rebrascora]

Remind us which BG meter you are using?
There are a couple on the market which appear to give false low readings if you don't get enough blood on the test strip or lose contact with the drop of blood whilst it is sucking the blood into the test strip, causing an air lock in the sample. I would doubt those low readings are genuine if you are not on medication.

I hope you are not starving yourself. Sometimes weight loss will stall if you are not eating enough. I would not worry so much about how fast or slow you are losing weight or put pressure on yourself to lose a certain amount by a set time. Your BG levels are great (apart from those odd low ones which I suspect are erroneous) and they are a better indication that your HbA1c is reducing than weight loss, so try to chill a bit and if you are hungry eat more.
I like to have big plates of food so that I feel full and you can still do that whilst being low carb, so don't feel you need to starve yourself as that is not sustainable and can slow your weight loss. I know I have posed quite a few photos of meals I have made in the "Food ideas with Photos" thread in the food section as have plenty of other people. It might give you a few idea if you have a browse of that if you haven't already. An HbA1c of 49 is just over the diagnostic threshold so you shouldn't have to make really drastic changes.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

if type 2 could drop too low or is that just type 1 …I still have lots to learn.

If you aren’t on glucose-lowering medication it would be possible for you to get to the high 3s, but as far as I’m aware you’d be quite unlikely to get below 3.5, at which point you’d be feeling pretty wobbly I’d think.

 

[Winifreds child]

I guess your last test was two months ago and you will have your next test in a months time and you have lost 1 1/2 stone to date. Your last HBA1C was 49 and all your finger pricks test are now under 6

IMHO you have done incredibly well and I don't think you have anything to worry about and I sure your 49 will be a lot less and more acceptable to both doctor and DN

Thanks very much that makes me feel hopeful…because the next test needs to be good to avoid medication I do realise then I have to keep it up for ever just think nothing feels normal yet but thanks for your help and to everyone who offered a bit of advice it’s much appreciated…if I can get to the next step I think my next set of questions will be for members who have been coping with this for years and have come to really understand the many sides to it ….their experience is so helpful to the newbies like me and has been such a help …thank you

 

[Winifreds child]

If you aren’t on glucose-lowering medication it would be possible for you to get to the high 3s, but as far as I’m aware you’d be quite unlikely to get below 3.5, at which point you’d be feeling pretty wobbly I’d think.

Thank you that’s good to know …I did feel fine so I think it was a dud test most likely something I did wrong ….not really use to it yet ..sure I’ll get better …thanks so much for your reply’s

 

[dannybgoode]

Thanks very much that makes me feel hopeful…because the next test needs to be good to avoid medication I do realise then I have to keep it up for ever just think nothing feels normal yet but thanks for your help and to everyone who offered a bit of advice it’s much appreciated…if I can get to the next step I think my next set of questions will be for members who have been coping with this for years and have come to really understand the many sides to it ….their experience is so helpful to the newbies like me and has been such a help …thank you

Don't forget you don't *have* to take medication. It might be suggested and oftentimes it is very sensible however if you feel in control and your Hba1C is still only slightly higher than the ideal you could turn down the offer of meds.

You are very much part of the conversation when it comes to your care. Drs and the will of course advise what they think is the best route forward and they are often correct but not always...

 

[Winifreds child]

Remind us which BG meter you are using?
There are a couple on the market which appear to give false low readings if you don't get enough blood on the test strip or lose contact with the drop of blood whilst it is sucking the blood into the test strip, causing an air lock in the sample. I would doubt those low readings are genuine if you are not on medication.

I hope you are not starving yourself. Sometimes weight loss will stall if you are not eating enough. I would not worry so much about how fast or slow you are losing weight or put pressure on yourself to lose a certain amount by a set time. Your BG levels are great (apart from those odd low ones which I suspect are erroneous) and they are a better indication that your HbA1c is reducing than weight loss, so try to chill a bit and if you are hungry eat more.
I like to have big plates of food so that I feel full and you can still do that whilst being low carb, so don't feel you need to starve yourself as that is not sustainable and can slow your weight loss. I know I have posed quite a few photos of meals I have made in the "Food ideas with Photos" thread in the food section as have plenty of other people. It might give you a few idea if you have a browse of that if you haven't already. An HbA1c of 49 is just over the diagnostic threshold so you shouldn't have to make really drastic changes.

Thanks very much for your reply my meter is sinocare ….I haven’t starved but maybe gone a bit too low on carbs ..I think having to think so much every time I eat has become a bit overwhelming and boiled eggs seem an easy option too many times I’ll take a look at photos you have mentioned it might give me some ideas thanks very much

 

[rebrascora]

Yes, the Sinocare is one of those meters which gives a false low if you don't get enough blood on the test strip.

I know I went hammer and tongs at my diet in the beginning but my HbA1c was 114 so I had a lot more to worry about than you. I think you are probably being a bit too hard on yourself, so hopefully you will find some inspiration from the photos in that thread. Don't worry if you see your BG rise a bit because keeping it below 6mmols 2 hours after a meal is unreasonable and not normal..... non-diabetic people go above that, so cut yourself some slack.

 

[rebrascora]

@Leadinglights As far as I am aware you cannot overfill the test strips. They only have a set capacity and without applying pressure which I can't imagine any reasonable way of doing, you can't get more into the channel than it can accommodate.

 

[Leadinglights]

@Leadinglights As far as I am aware you cannot overfill the test strips. They only have a set capacity and without applying pressure which I can't imagine any reasonable way of doing, you can't get more into the channel than it can accommodate.

I find with my strips if the drop of blood is too big and if I dither a bit it can go on top of the strip rather than in the chamber.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks very much for your reply my meter is sinocare ….I haven’t starved but maybe gone a bit too low on carbs ..I think having to think so much every time I eat has become a bit overwhelming and boiled eggs seem an easy option too many times I’ll take a look at photos you have mentioned it might give me some ideas thanks very much

If you have a look at some of the menu plans in this link it might give you an idea of the variety of foods you can have and still be low carb. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/