Type 2 confused

gobbydwarf said:

I have recently started using insulin, but am confused about my readings today.I tested my blood at 2:10 pm and got a reading of
3.5 having had no lunch. I tested again at 3:00 pm just before eating and got 4.6.There is no logic to this as I expected an even lower number. CONFUSED

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Did you eat anything when you tested and got a reading of 3.5 telling you you were hypoglycaemic? Did you have any symptoms? Did you test again to check whether the hypo reading was correct? Or did you just ignore the hypo for 50 minutes? You really shouldn't get a reading of 3.5 and then wait an hour to test again expecting a lower number. That's not really a sensible approach to managing your blood sugar when you're taking insulin. Have you been given any advice on recognising and treating hypos since starting insulin?

I may be wrong but if your numbers were low and you haven't eaten then your body will compensate by releasing glucose into your blood stream to try and prevent a dangerous hypo this would temporarily raise your BG level.

Sorry @catapillar cross posted.

Hi there, you have to take into account the leeway that the blood test meter has.. they all have an allowance either side of the reading. Also, I've found that you can take a reading from a finger on one hand, repeat it straight away on the other and get a different reading. Add to that, not washing your hands properly and things like that and you'll find that just for readings there can be a difference.

Also, if you are newly diagnosed type one, your pancreas function may still have some life in it and signalled your liver to give out some glycogen which has raised your blood sugar.

It's not as precise an art as we would like, but experience and time will give you understanding and confidence in looking after your diabetes. I've found record keeping to be the key, recording tests and carbs and insulin use will show pattern and lead to better understanding of how you, as a unique individual, react to the different aspects of diabetes.

Good luck, hopes this helps.