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swimming and bms

S

shellyk

Member
Hi all, just a quick question, as school hols just about brave enough 5 months after diagnosis to take my daughter swimming again, might seem a strange question but will the chemicals in the water effect her BM reading so does she need to go back the changing room to wash hands before testing,

Thanks
Shellyk
 
Hi Shellyk, I wouldnt think that chlorine plus whatever else is in swimming pool water would affect bg readings but I dont know the definitive answer here so I would test a couple of times after dying the finger and if the results are not as expected then perhaps take a small bottle of hand cleaner and use that prior to testing, I do that when I go fishing as I tend to have all sorts on my hands then.
 
Certainly doesn't affect mine and I swim most days in summer.
I have to be careful about lows though, if I lived in the pool I don't think I would be diabetic at all!
 
We've never had a problem with the chemicals in the water. I think they are so diluted that it doesn't make a difference. Be aware that your daughter's readings may fall due to the exercise so she may need a small carby snack before she gets into the water. It all depends how much energy she's going to burn. Water can sometimes mask the symptoms of a hypo so keep an eye out for her. With my daughter we usually let her swim/play for an hour in the water, then she needs to come out and do a test to see how her readings are doing. She's on the pump so may need a quick top up of insulin or a snack all depending on how the readings are looking.
 
Shell,

I personally would wash my hands first if it was convenient, failing that just make sure the hands are completely dry before testing.

Nigel
 
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