AskNadia: False Blood Glucose Readings and How They Relate to Your Glucose Test Strips

Dear Nadia,

My blood sugar numbers are all over the place? They range from 126 on the low end to 422 on the high end.

George

Dear George:

It natural for blood sugar tests to vary. Ideally, you want to be in the normal range. If your higher reading is an isolated situation, the meter reading could be the result of a malfunction; producing a test result more elevated than the actual blood sugar.

The FDA allows up to a 20 percent margin of error with blood glucose meters. How a blood glucose test strip has been stored can affect the accuracy of your glucose reading.

Blood glucose meter manufactures will have storage and temperature requirements to keep your glucose test strips accurate. Listed in the packaging is information about the ideal altitude and temperature for blood glucose strip accuracy. If you are in a higher elevation, experiencing cold weather conditions, your blood glucose meter may not read your strip accurately. The same holds true if you are in a hot humid area, the temperature can show a less accurate glucose test result. Too cold or too hot, can impact the accuracy of your test strip. Depending on which meter you are using, read the packaging about storing and temperature recommendations for your particular brand. Make sure your test strips are not expired and code the new vile to the blood glucose meter.

Other Possible Reasons for High Blood Sugar Readings

Stress, being ill, new medications and unknown ingredients in the food may also impact your blood sugars.

I was once speaking to a healthcare professional who shared a story about a nameless patient who went from having normal blood sugars to 400 plus blood sugars. When I asked what accounted for the change, he said that the patient was going through a custody battle in court. The stress of litigating significantly impacted his blood sugars. His insulin requirements temporarily went up.

It is best to treat a high blood sugar sooner than later to prevent diabetes.
If you take insulin, treat your high blood sugar as instructed by your healthcare professional. This will be the quickest way to bring your blood sugar down.

If you do not take insulin, exercise is an excellent way to bring down your blood sugar. Your body requires energy to exercise, and sugar is the fuel you need for exercise. Keep ketone strips with your diabetes supplies. If you have ketones in your blood where the fat instead of the glucose is being used for fuel, this can be very dangerous. If you don’t have ketones in your blood and can exercise, follow your healthcare professional’s recommendations when it comes to which exercise you should do and how long you should do it for. Make sure to ask your healthcare professional how to bring down your blood sugar and if you have ketones when you should not exercise. Not everyone can exercise. Know your limits and have a treatment for your high blood sugars.

High Blood Sugar Before or After You Eat

You did not mention if your glucose test results are pre-prandial (before you eat) or postprandial (60-120 minutes after you eat). Minimizing how long it stays high, keeping your blood sugar closer to the normal range is generally a good insurance policy in delaying or preventing diabetes complications.

Your glucose test result of 126 is equivalent to a 6% A1c. The 231 is more alarming, as it means your blood sugar is hovering between 9 and 10 percent.

Some healthcare professional will be happy with a 6% A1c. Other healthcare professionals may want you in tighter control with an A1c target around 5.5%.

In my discussions and experience with people living with diabetes, the tighter control appears to be more achievable with people who are watching their carbs. Being on the keto diet limits the foods that will raise your blood sugars.

What is Normal for a Blood Sugar Test

The American Diabetes Association has set guidelines for blood sugar targets.

180 mg/dl one to two hours after you eat
130 mg/dl before you eat
100 mg/dl when fasting
140 mg/dl before you go to bed

These targets may be appropriate for you assuming your healthcare provider has set the ADA’s guidelines as a reasonable range for your diabetes self-managemnt.

You might also be interested in reading these articles:

AskNadia: How Do I Calculate My A1c from My Blood Sugar Range

How to Lower Your Blood Sugar When it is Over 200

Sources:

Factors Affecting Blood Glucose Monitoring

Effect of Adverse Storage Conditions on Performance of Glucometer Test Strips

Disclaimer:

Nadia’s feedback on your question is in no way intended to initiate or replace your healthcare professionals’ therapy or advice. Please check in with your medical team to discuss your diabetes management concerns.

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About Nadia:

AskNadia (ranked #1 by Google), named “Best Diabetes Blog for 2017 by Healthline and with 24 nominations, Nadia Al-Samarrie’s efforts have made her stand out as a pioneer and leading patient advocate in the diabetes community.
Nadia was not only born into a family with diabetes but also married into one. She was propelled at a young age into “caretaker mode,” and with her knowledge of the scarcity of resources, support, and understanding for people with diabetes, co-founded Diabetes Interview, now Diabetes Health magazine.

Nadia has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, and other major cable networks. Her publications, medical supply business, and website have been cited, recognized and published in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal, Ann Landers advice column, former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca, Entrepreneur magazine, Houston News, Phili.com, Brand Week, Drug Topics, and many other media outlets.

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