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Coffee and Showers

Bittern

Well-Known Member
Messages
248
Location
East Anglia UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Up till this month I have had stable "feet on floor" blood glucose (BG) levels in the morning. I then drink black coffee, have a shower and roughly 2hrs later test again. My BG at this test has been usually 1 or 2 mMol higher but consistent at this level so OK thats how it's working, live with it. Over the last month same routine but BG post coffee and shower now varies widely anything from -2 to +4. Any ideas of the cause and possible methods of stabilisation would be appreciated.

Current treatment is Metformin and diet.
 
Has your sleep pattern changed at all?
 
To be honest there are so many factors that can affect blood glucose through the day that it’s probably impossible to blame the coffee. Having said that, in theory the caffeine may have a small effect but I’ve personally never noticed it. More likely just morning creep.
 
Could be your meter or the strips having issues too?
 
Doesn’t you coffee get diluted or test strips soggy in the shower
 
It could you are fighting a cold or flu bug.
You might not feel sick but it still can cause higher bloodsuger while your body is fighting it.
 
Caeseji said:
Could be your meter or the strips having issues too?
Click to expand...

Checked strips against a new tub and another meter and get 6.5, 6,6, 6.5 so well within tolerance. Checked meter calibration and thats OK.
 
Could it be Dawn Phenomenon? Some forum members say their bg continues to rise after getting up until they have something to eat. Or maybe if you like it add double cream or coconut oil to your coffee.
 
I also find my meter readings increase immediately after a warm shower, I put it down to kickstarting the body and dawn phenomenon.
 
Or with warm skin we might get a larger amount of blood on the strip and this influences the reading ?
 
There have been a number of threads on the forum regarding seeing glucose levels rise after taking a morning shower - I see similar after a warm bath.
 
Robbity said:
There have been a number of threads on the forum regarding seeing glucose levels rise after taking a morning shower - I see similar after a warm bath.
Click to expand...

Funnily enough, I used to see a rise after a bath, but haven't done so in quite a long time now.
 
kitedoc said:
Or with warm skin we might get a larger amount of blood on the strip and this influences the reading ?
Click to expand...
Strips use capillary action to draw in exactly the same amount of blood every time. It doesn't matter about the size of the blood drop, unless it is too small in which case the meter gives an error.
 
There is one thing I have learned never take a cup of coffee into the shower with you. that way disaster lies.
 
Mr_Pot said:
Strips use capillary action to draw in exactly the same amount of blood every time. It doesn't matter about the size of the blood drop, unless it is too small in which case the meter gives an error.
Click to expand...
I agree that that is the expected result but I have noted differences using the same drop of blood and excessivley and quickly loading up one strip compared to another.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Funnily enough, I used to see a rise after a bath, but haven't done so in quite a long time now.
Click to expand...
I probably should have said "have seen" as it's not something I've looked at very often - and not since I had serious issues with a batch of very unsticky Libre sensors a while back

Robbity
 
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