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How much does sweat impact A1C or Glucose readings?

JW18484

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Other
I have palmar hyperhidrosis (my hands and feet sweat excessively). I wash my hands, dry them, and then wipe the site with alcohol, but even when I wipe my hands dry there is still sweat that comes back out like immediately. Can I still trust my readings given this weird condition? Does a bit of sweat mixed with blood artificially deflate the sugar levels given that it’s salt? Or am I overthinking this?
 
What an interesting question! I reckon you will need to pool ideas to choose your answer, because I very much doubt if there's been any research completed.

Initial thought is that sweat is salty not sugary. I would imagine you'd be ultra organised, to facilitate a rapid dry-prick-measure without distraction.

You could take your meter to the surgery to do synchronous venous/capillary measuring to compare results.

You could discuss with the DNS about 'alternate site' testing. I think a fruitful Internet search on alternate site testing could be achieved, with a good image search.

It is frequently advised to warm hands to obtain a better blood sample, but this may exacerbate your problem. Do you think experimenting with hand temperature might alter the rate of sweating?

Deep down, I feel the impact is quite probably minimal. No alarm bells have rung in my mind. But as previous you would do best to assimilate from a few people's thoughts.

By the way, have you already tried iontopheresis?

Good luck! Do let the forum know if you come up with a definitive answer.
 
Hi,

It is an interesting question.

By my logic. Affecting an HbA1c test.? No, the blood sample gets sourced directly from a vein. (Tapped in so to speak.)
The finger test? If a large enough bead of blood is drawn. I can't see there would be anything in it..
 
If it’s within your means then a libre might be a workaround as it is sited on the arms (usually although I’ve seen chest and stomach mentioned too).
Even if it’s just short term to educate about food choices if a type 2.
If type 1 it might persuade your care team to prescribe it.

Worth updating your profile for type at least to save people guessing. Age suggests type 1 fairly likely but there are young type 2’s around.
 
Not scientific or official but whenever I’ve tested straight after a workout and hands a bit sweaty if I then wash hands reading are a bit lower.
 
Surely if you wipe your finger with a tissue and then prick there will be no sweat involved.
 
How about if you wipe away the first spot of blood and use the second hopefully undiluted spot for the test
 
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