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Is it my imagination ... ?

C

CallMeAlan

Active Member
Messages
26
Location
Newbury
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Maybe I'm imagining things, but it seems that when I prick my finger to do a reading, if the blood flows readily into a nice blob then the reading is going to be low to normal. If it's difficult to get enough to wet the test strip, necessitating a re-prick, then the reading is going to be above normal.
Am I imagining things?
 
CallMeAlan said:
Maybe I'm imagining things, but it seems that when I prick my finger to do a reading, if the blood flows readily into a nice blob then the reading is going to be low to normal. If it's difficult to get enough to wet the test strip, necessitating a re-prick, then the reading is going to be above normal.
Am I imagining things?
Click to expand...
I have noticed the same.
 
There's only about 1 teaspoon of glucose in the entire blood in all the body so might be wishful thinking that itc concentration could be spotted in in tiny drop. More likely hydration or blood pressure .
Although when I first went very low carb I swore I could see the sugar draining out in the fluid in my eyes for a few days!!!
 
CallMeAlan said:
Maybe I'm imagining things, but it seems that when I prick my finger to do a reading, if the blood flows readily into a nice blob then the reading is going to be low to normal. If it's difficult to get enough to wet the test strip, necessitating a re-prick, then the reading is going to be above normal.
Am I imagining things?
Click to expand...
It has been cold, the body shuts down blood flow to the skin when it feels cold.

Try warming your hand up on a hot coffee/tea mug before you stick yourself. Works for me.
 
I've always believed that I get a "better" result from those nice fat blobs but I don't often need to re-prick and when I do it's not necessarily due to lack of size, sometimes the blood looks thinner/different.
 
CallMeAlan said:
Maybe I'm imagining things, but it seems that when I prick my finger to do a reading, if the blood flows readily into a nice blob then the reading is going to be low to normal. If it's difficult to get enough to wet the test strip, necessitating a re-prick, then the reading is going to be above normal.
Am I imagining things?
Click to expand...
I have had those exact thoughts. But I do not know if its legit.
 
I tend to find a rich deep red blob means a lower figure, a more watery looking blob for want of a better expression, tends to be higher.
 
It may be different for me with Type 1 but I find a hypo can trigger my Reynaud making a blood test near impossible.
So, if the blood is not flowing, I expect a low reading.

On the other hand, if I have been exercising, my blood flows easily … but could also mean a low.
However, I do wonder if some people with type 2 experience easier flowing blood and lower readings due to exercise. The blood flow is not the connection but rather the exercise.
 
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