Higher reading

[Donna85]

Good morning everyone. I know it's possible this morning could be a false reading, but any reason why my finger prick could be showing at 2 points higher than my first, its barely 2 hrs ago and I haven't eaten anything or exercised..just school run by car. What else can cause a rise please? Is this normal?

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Good morning everyone. I know it's possible this morning could be a false reading, but any reason why my finger prick could be showing at 2 points higher than my first, its barely 2 hrs ago and I haven't eaten anything or exercised..just school run by car. What else can cause a rise please? Is this normal?

There's a LOT that can influence blood sugars. If you've been active, out and about, on an empty stomach, you probably have been experiencing a liver dump, also known as Dawn Phenomenon. Just your liver "helpfully" dumping glucose into your bloodstream to give you energy to start the day. (It stops when you eat something. Bit of cheese, some nuts, if you don't want to go for a "proper" breakfast, just want to tell you liver to knock it off.) It's quite harmless, and it depletes what's stored in your liver some, so that's not bad either. Keep depleting those stores, yay you!

 

[Donna85]

Thank you. I was concerned perhaps my meter was faulty. This hasn't happened to me before, it usually goes down instead of up throughout the morning, so does this look about right? ..thank you. Will see how the rest of the day goes!

 

[Gary clark]

I’ve just had a similar issue just been diagnosed type 2 on metformin 500 ml slow release for 5 weeks now my fasting bs was 7.8 before metformin been taking it for just 5 weeks and tested my fasting bs this morning was 9.4 scared me and did again after just one minute and was 8.5 did again 9.2 is this a faulty finger prick machine or is metformin not working yet

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Thank you. I was concerned perhaps my meter was faulty. This hasn't happened to me before, it usually goes down instead of up throughout the morning, so does this look about right? ..thank you. Will see how the rest of the day goes! View attachment 65409

Yeah, it happens... Try not to worry about it, as long as it comes back down, you're all good. Keep in mind there's a lot of things that can cause a rise, like a bad night's sleep, getting up to pee, stress, worry, a virus going around etc, etc.

 

[ianf0ster]

I’ve just had a similar issue just been diagnosed type 2 on metformin 500 ml slow release for 5 weeks now my fasting bs was 7.8 before metformin been taking it for just 5 weeks and tested my fasting bs this morning was 9.4 scared me and did again after just one minute and was 8.5 did again 9.2 is this a faulty finger prick machine or is metformin not working yet

Metformin helps to reduce liver dumps. It takes weeks for it to make much difference to BG and even then, it has no effect on the glucose made from the food you eat.
Also BG meters are not 100% accurate, it's rare for 2 tests of even the same blood drop to give exact same reading. BG fluctuates during the day influenced not only by food and exercise, but stress, brain activity etc.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I’ve just had a similar issue just been diagnosed type 2 on metformin 500 ml slow release for 5 weeks now my fasting bs was 7.8 before metformin been taking it for just 5 weeks and tested my fasting bs this morning was 9.4 scared me and did again after just one minute and was 8.5 did again 9.2 is this a faulty finger prick machine or is metformin not working yet

Metformin is something that works on a plateau, far as I know, so I doubt it's an issue of it working, yes or no. You've been on it long enough, methinks. Keep in mind it only does something about your liver dumping... Nothing about what you eat, save maaaaaybe up the insulin-sensitivity a smidge. Not enough to write home about, though.

9,4 Isn't something to be scared of, it won't make you keel over. It's prolonged higher numbers like that, that so damage to vessels and organs, so as long as you dip back down again in a reasonable amount of time, (an hour or a few hours), you should be okay. Now if you're seeing high double digits, you do need to get back in touch with your doc, but a 9 or 10 isn't something you can't fix with a brisk walk around the block, should you be so inclined. No medical expert here, just my experience so far. (Especially after making the mistake of having Chinese tomato soup, which as it turns out, is liquid sugar... Had to excuse myself and go for a quick one, before getting back to the dining table.).

Also, you rarely get the exact same reading twice. There's a 15% margin of error on meters, which is, you know, "close enough for government work", so if there's three pricks and you don't see massive deviations, just go from the average. Also, when you see numbers you don't expect, always do a re-check to see whether the sample was contaminated (a good rinse of the hands with water should do).

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Metformin helps to reduce liver dumps. It takes weeks for it to make much difference to BG and even then, it has no effect on the glucose made from the food you eat.
Also BG meters are not 100% accurate, it's rare for 2 tests of even the same blood drop to give exact same reading. BG fluctuates during the day influenced not only by food and exercise, but stress, brain activity etc.

....Succinct! Sheesh, I'm wordy!

 

[Donna85]

....Succinct! Sheesh, I'm wordy!

Thanks Jo! It's great to speak to someone who knows about these things.. anything I try to contact my go with, I'm told to fill in a form and someone will be in touch in 3 days! It's a brilliant site for advice and a quick response.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Thanks Jo! It's great to speak to someone who knows about these things.. anything I try to contact my go with, I'm told to fill in a form and someone will be in touch in 3 days! It's a brilliant site for advice and a quick response.

We're just the "been there, done that" folks. We went through it, so you don't have to, haha!

 

[Francel]

Thank you. I was concerned perhaps my meter was faulty. This hasn't happened to me before, it usually goes down instead of up throughout the morning, so does this look about right? ..thank you. Will see how the rest of the day goes! View attachment 65409

I wouldn’t worry with these readings I’ve had the liver dump frequently in the mornings and as advised before, if you eat something the dump ceases! My levels have gone up to 18 mmols before…been Type 1 for 54 years and it’s happened a few times with no reason, so don’t worry you’re doing a great job

 

[ravensmitten]

Metformin helps to reduce liver dumps. It takes weeks for it to make much difference to BG and even then, it has no effect on the glucose made from the food you eat.
Also BG meters are not 100% accurate, it's rare for 2 tests of even the same blood drop to give exact same reading. BG fluctuates during the day influenced not only by food and exercise, but stress, brain activity etc.

Ahh Interesting. my gp told me otherwise when asked how it worked, but I've been doing some reading up on it as I've been getting some mad high (for me) readings since I've been on it for 3 weeks, 12-14. Far higher than before I was on it, esp in mornings, but also other times of the day too.

Came off it for a few days as I was feeling a bit out of sorts, deyhdrated, etc. and bgs seem to be far lower than when I was on it. Could be a coincidence/fluctuations.

Almost at the point of making an online econsult appointment to discuss it with the gp* but ultimately with a view to staying off it as I'm sure its makeing me feel out of sorts, and going back to LCHF, which worked for me really well before I fell off the wagon again.

Edit: *just filed one

 

[Donna85]

Another random high reading again tonight. I'm hoping it's because I'm under the weather still, but had 100% mince, with a handful of mushrooms and half a cup of gravy. Had this before without a rise. 3 hours later and I'm still 2 above before eating x

 

[Donna85]

And I took gliclazide half hrs before eating. I can't make head nor tail of this sometimes