Worried

[victoria933]

I just looking for advice really. Yesterday my elderly aunt thought she would check our bloods with her finger pricker. My mums who is 74 was 5 and mine was 13 so now I’m very worried going to speak to the doctor Monday. My ESR rate is 10 and the last time I had a diabetic test was 20 months ago and normal. I do have under active thyroid and scarring alopecia condition. I’m so worried.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @victoria933 🙂 Try not to worry. It could have been high because there was some tiny amount of something on your finger. I’ve seen myself how that can cause rogue results.

You’re doing the right thing speaking to your GP. They can do an HbA1C blood test (from your arm). This is the diagnostic test for diabetes and will tell you whether you’re not diabetic, pre-diabetic or diabetic.

Do let us know how you get on. Wishing you well.

 

[rebrascora]

Agreed, that a little bit of contamination on your fingers can very easily corrupt the reading even if you can't see it or feel it.... maybe from eating a piece of fruit earlier or even chopping onions, passing someone a jar of jam. Usually one of the things we recommend is to wash your hands and dry them well and double check when you get an unexpected reading. Not sure if you did that with your Aunt's meter but certainly not worth worrying until you have a proper diagnostic test, but if you have risk factors then it does no harm to address those by starting a weight loss program if weight is an issue and increasing your exercise/activity levels. Nothing really exertive unless you want to, but a brisk daily walk is ideal if you are able and from my own experience I can tell you that it really makes you feel good once you get into a regular routine with it.... so even if it is not diabetes and you just had jam on your finger or had just eaten a massive bit of cake before the test, you can still use it as a wake up call to become healthier.

 

[Drummer]

When I was diagnosed my blood glucose was half as high again as yours - so even if you are found to be glucose intolerant, it might be a good thing, found early and not such a trail back to normal number as it might have been - and you get to have steak and mushrooms for breakfast and know it is doing you good.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @victoria933

Hopefully getting a proper HbA1c check will either put your mind at rest, or point the way forwards.

Try not to panic in the meantime. Home BG monitors aren’t really rated for diagnostic purposes, so it’s best to wait until you’ve had an HbA1c which is the preferred diagnostic check for diabetes these days.

 

[victoria933]

Agreed, that a little bit of contamination on your fingers can very easily corrupt the reading even if you can't see it or feel it.... maybe from eating a piece of fruit earlier or even chopping onions, passing someone a jar of jam. Usually one of the things we recommend is to wash your hands and dry them well and double check when you get an unexpected reading. Not sure if you did that with your Aunt's meter but certainly not worth worrying until you have a proper diagnostic test, but if you have risk factors then it does no harm to address those by starting a weight loss program if weight is an issue and increasing your exercise/activity levels. Nothing really exertive unless you want to, but a brisk daily walk is ideal if you are able and from my own experience I can tell you that it really makes you feel good once you get into a regular routine with it.... so even if it is not diabetes and you just had jam on your finger or had just eaten a massive bit of cake before the test, you can still use it as a wake up call to become healthier.

Thank you it was my left index finger and I had eaten a muffin and various of other bits. If it comes back the test isn’t type 1 I bought so many books yesterday and I’m going to start the MM fast800

 

[victoria933]

When I was diagnosed my blood glucose was half as high again as yours - so even if you are found to be glucose intolerant, it might be a good thing, found early and not such a trail back to normal number as it might have been - and you get to have steak and mushrooms for breakfast and know it is doing you good.

Thank you I suppose I’m panicking it’s type 1

 

[Inka]

Thank you I suppose I’m panicking it’s type 1

Do you have any symptoms of Type 1? Is there a reason you’re concerned about it?

As I said in my first post, it’s probable your finger was ‘contaminated’ and that gave you an incorrect reading.

 

[victoria933]

Thank you I suppose I’m panicking it’s type 1

No other than the prick test and I have other auto immune illnesses under active thyroid and scarring alopecia but no weight loss or thirst or anything else xx

 

[Drummer]

I also have an underactive thyroid - and my hair is really rather thin on top - but I seem to be a very ordinary type 2, responding so well to eating low carb that I see normal numbers all the time.