Newbie needing advice

[Chrissie Cunliffe]

Hi - I am fairly new to diabetes type 2. Not sure if this is a question that can be answered on here? I have been unwell with heart and lung problems for the past 6 months. I am now seeing unstable finger prick test results. I don’t generally check glucose levels, but due to feeling ill I have been doing checks. My finger prick tests were 16mmol this morning before food. Another day the result was 18.2mmol and another time it was too low at 2.1mmol. have had my hba1c done and that is 51 suggesting nothing to worry about ?? Should I be worried?

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi - I am fairly new to diabetes type 2. Not sure if this is a question that can be answered on here? I have been unwell with heart and lung problems for the past 6 months. I am now seeing unstable finger prick test results. I don’t generally check glucose levels, but due to feeling ill I have been doing checks. My finger prick tests were 16mmol this morning before food. Another day the result was 18.2mmol and another time it was too low at 2.1mmol. have had my hba1c done and that is 51 suggesting nothing to worry about ?? Should I be worried?

Those are indeed quite high levels and not quite consistent with an HbA1C of only 51mmol/mol so I wonder if something has recently changed to increase your levels. One thing is that illness can increase blood glucose but if you have been prescribed any medication like steroids for you lung issues that can also affect blood glucose.
I would suspect the low reading was an error as otherwise you would have been extremely unwell as that would have been at hypo level.
Are you on any medication for your diabetes or managing with diet only.
If high readings are unusual then worth rechecking after washing your hands. If you haven't used your monitor regularly then check things like the battery and your strips are in date as either of those things may cause erratic readings.

 

[saffron15]

@Chrissie Cunliffe welcome to the forum. Worrying or stress can make things worse. Be guided by your Doctor. 51 is a measurement of your average blood glucose of the last three months. 51 is only just nudging into diabetes the diabetes zone. If you cut back on carbs which includes sugar you should be fine. Smaller portions of carbs or replacement. Eg cauli instead of rice celeriac instead of mash or red lentil pasta. You have probably already changed your diet. You do not need to change everything and slow changes are best. With a reading only just in the diabetic range your first consideration is heart health. Stress is not good. You need to choose food you like or think you could like. You need to speak to the Doctor as to how to manage your conditions. The freshwell site is very good with ideas and information eg some fruit is very sweet. Basically English fruit and berries good other fruit take care.

You may be on medication which limits the scope of low carb.

Blood glucose your readings seem a bit high for your hba1c. What monitor do you have and why are you testing. In the early days it helps you see how your body responds to carbs many people enjoy porridge whilst some have a spike. The low reading maybe because you had insufficient blood but you need very little. Check links on the forum as to how tomdo it. Warm clean hands are best. Hug a mug!

 

[saffron15]

Had Internet probs. Above reply typed before but sent after @Leadinglights reply. Some of my reply overlaps

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Those readings are rather erratic and as others have said, this might suggest your strips may not be always giving you accurate results? Certainly the 2.1mmol/L seems unlikely - as you would have expected to be feeling profound hypo symptoms anywhere close to that level.

Illness can raise BG levels, and the higher levels you might be having may have been short-lived, but I agree with @saffron15 that the 16-18.2 don’t seem to be consistent with you most recent HbA1c.

Getting new strips (or perhaps an updated affordable meter like the Contour Blue or Spirit Tee2), and perhaps organising an updated HbA1c to see how the land lies might be helpful?

 

[Lucyr]

I’d start with reviewing your fingerprick equipment and technique since you say you aren’t used to testing. Are you washing and drying your hands before testing? Are your test strips in rate? Are you confident using your meter - there will be videos online if you’re not sure.

If the hba1c of 51 was recent then it’s probably nothing to worry about but if your levels keep being high and are making you feel more unwell then you should see someone about it. Illness and certain medications can make your blood sugars harder to manage.

 

[rebrascora]

How long ago was the HbA1c result? Was it before you were ill or afterwards? If it was before you were ill, then I suggest you make an appointment to have another one done as those high readings if they are genuine, suggest something has dramatically changed and illness can do that.
The high readings seem to be reasonably consistent ie a 16 and an 18, although they most certainly do not tie in with an HbA1c of 51 which is why we need to know when you got that last HbA1c result.
The 2.1mmol reading is almost certainly a false reading. Which meter are you using? Some are more reliable than others and there are a couple that give you a false low reading if you don't get enough blood in the test strip.

You could go to a pharmacy and ask them to do a BG finger prick test on you as that will help to clarify if it is your meter or genuine high levels and if genuinely high then I am sure that the pharmacist will recommend you contact your GP.