Fluctuations BSL question

[annabell1]

Hi this might be a silly question and have T2D but was wondering so I tested my BSL it showed it was 3.4 mmol/m then about a minute later tested again a few times it fluctuates between to 4.2 to 4.1 mmol/m now I had eaten about 4 hours ago so what do you do? Do you have something to eat or wait I've been T2D for awhile but never asked this question before so was wondering if anyone can explain what you do.

 

[Goonergal]

Hi @annabell1

If I’m understanding right, there are a couple of questions in there. Firstly about the different readings and secondly about what to do if the readings are low.

In response to the first, meters have a standard error range of around +\- 10-15% so getting slightly different readings very close together is quite normal. In your case if 3.5 is unusually low, then your liver may well have kicked in and slightly raised levels to the higher numbers - that quite often happens to me,

All of which leads to the second point about whether to eat. Are you taking blood glucose lowering medication? I wasn’t quite sure which of those listed on your profile are included in your current treatment. If you’re on insulin or some other glucose lowering meds then eating something when dropping low is often recommended. I have zero experience of that, so will leave others to comment.

If it’s just metformin, or no meds, then you should be safe to just continue as normal without eating something to put your numbers up.

 

[annabell1]

Hi @annabell1

If I’m understanding right, there are a couple of questions in there. Firstly about the different readings and secondly about what to do if the readings are low.

In response to the first, meters have a standard error range of around +\- 10-15% so getting slightly different readings very close together is quite normal. In your case if 3.5 is unusually low, then your liver may well have kicked in and slightly raised levels to the higher numbers - that quite often happens to me,

All of which leads to the second point about whether to eat. Are you taking blood glucose lowering medication? I wasn’t quite sure which of those listed on your profile are included in your current treatment. If you’re on insulin or some other glucose lowering meds then eating something when dropping low is often recommended. I have zero experience of that, so will leave others to comment.

If it’s just metformin, or no meds, then you should be safe to just continue as normal without eating something to put your numbers up.

Hi @Goonergal thanks for your reply sorry I reread my post and realised I was asking 2 questions there. I am currently taking in morning junivia 100mg and diamicron 60MR. But I often wondered what you should do when BSL faluates like that. I did end up eating a piece of Cadbury chocolates 2 squares and couple of potato crisps and black coffee not sure if that was a good choices but wasn't really hungry for a meal tjought better to be safe then wonder if it was going to drop low again, also was going out later for dinner so hence why I retested a few times because I really didn't want to eat, but the snack I had brought my BSL up to 8. Then About 4 hours later my BSL was 5.3 mmol/l. Then had a meal about an hour after that result.

I should probably know more on what to do as when first diagnosed 10 years ago was on insulin then due to being on steroids and My diabetes educator then always told me to eat something if it dropped below 4 then if it was time for a meal wait 15 minutes then have a meal but that was when I was on insulin 7 years ago. But I never really asked anyone before if BSL flautate like that do you really need to eat.

 

[HSSS]

To be fair it’s really not fluctuating much at all. Meters simply are not that accurate or consistent.

The gliclazide (diamicron) can cause hypos if the amount of medication exceeds the level of carbs you are eating. If you are regularly going low it probably needs reducing so ask your dr about that. Personally I wouldn’t aim to go up as high as 8, particularly before a meal but I don’t take any meds and am speaking purely theoretically and personally not through personal experience of such things