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  • My body doesn't make any sense

    Disclaimer: I guess I'm just thinking out loud here, not asking for advice, but expressing confusion. Since both my parents have diabetes, I got a fasting glucose done yesterday morning after fasting 10.5 hours.

    What I know as normal for me is that if I don't eat enough in the morning (like the sole banana I had for breakfast the day before my test) I will have a bout of low sugar a couple of hours later: feeling faint/dizzy, trouble seeing, lack of coordination, the whole nine yards. Luckily I don't actually pass out like my brother does. So it doesn't make sense to me that after fasting for 10 hours it's at 104--slightly elevated, as the nurse said (4 points over normal). At this point I haven't eaten for 7 hours and it feels slightly low. If I've learned anything, I'm not diabetic yet, but my pancreas has issues. I definitely have to keep on the cut-out-sugar-and-white-flour path. ETA: I'm shopping online for glucose meters. They're cheaper than I thought. Does anyone have any advice about how to avoid really sore fingers? Like, is there a place on the finger or a particular finger that's better to poke?
    Last edited by Food Lady; 05-20-2014, 06:12 PM.
    "Is it hot in here to you? It's very warm, isn't it?"--Nero, probably

  • #2
    my mom & step-dad are both diabetics (as is my dad) & they don't test on their fingers, they have meters that you get the blood from your arm, it's supposed to hurt less..Maybe ask your pharmacist if they carry those type of meters (they should)

    Good luck!
    "Much butthurt I sense in you, cry like a bitch you should"

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    • #3
      I spike in the morning also. I usually hit about 114.

      It is not uncommon. My doctor told me not to worry about it unless it stays high. You should really discuss this with your doctor. You might want to consider talking to an endocrinologist. They specialize in diabetes.

      As for the testing, I alternated between my middle and ring fingers on my left hand (right handed). I also alternated between the left and right side of the finger. I was checking twice a day, so I was lancing an area of the finger every other day.

      I used a Nipro Truetrack. The meter was free and the supplies cost less without insurance than the insurance co-pay on the others that my pharmacy carried. Talk with your pharmacist.

      According to this doc, you can use the meter on your finger or forearm.

      For managing your blood sugar, you should read up on the American Diabetic Association Exchange Diet. Good info.
      Life is too short to not eat popcorn.
      Save the Ales!
      Toys for Tots at Rooster's Cafe

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      • #4
        It's best to test on your fingers, as that gives the most accurate result (at least that's what I've been taught in my nursing classes).
        Don't wanna; not gonna.

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        • #5
          Yup, alternate fingers and sides of fingers. If you pick up an auto-jabber, set the lancet depth to just the right depth to get blood, but no deeper. Deeper also seems more painful.
          If I make no sense, I apologize. I'm constantly interrupted by an actual toddler.

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          • #6
            Quoth Food Lady View Post
            Disclaimer: I guess I'm just thinking out loud here, not asking for advice, but expressing confusion. Since both my parents have diabetes, I got a fasting glucose done yesterday morning after fasting 10.5 hours.

            What I know as normal for me is that if I don't eat enough in the morning (like the sole banana I had for breakfast the day before my test) I will have a bout of low sugar a couple of hours later: feeling faint/dizzy, trouble seeing, lack of coordination, the whole nine yards. Luckily I don't actually pass out like my brother does. So it doesn't make sense to me that after fasting for 10 hours it's at 104--slightly elevated, as the nurse said (4 points over normal). At this point I haven't eaten for 7 hours and it feels slightly low. If I've learned anything, I'm not diabetic yet, but my pancreas has issues. I definitely have to keep on the cut-out-sugar-and-white-flour path. ETA: I'm shopping online for glucose meters. They're cheaper than I thought. Does anyone have any advice about how to avoid really sore fingers? Like, is there a place on the finger or a particular finger that's better to poke?
            Avoid the pads of the fingers where the most nerve endings are. Rotate fingers.

            As for the fasting blood sugar; discuss with your doctor getting a glucose tolerance test. It will test how your body is metabolizing sugar. You may be pre-diabetic, or you may be diabetic, even though your blood sugar is just barely elevated after fasting.

            Diabetics bodies get used to the higher blood sugar. So they may feel lows that would be normal for non-diabetics. Right now I wouldn't waste my time with a fingerstick machine. It isn't going to tell you anything useful. You need further professional level evaluation and testing that can't be done at home. If your family doc won't do it, ask for a referral to an endocrinologist (a specialist in the endocrine system, which includes the pancreas).
            They say that God only gives us what we can handle. Apparently, God thinks I'm a bad ass.

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            • #7
              Quoth Food Lady View Post
              ETA: I'm shopping online for glucose meters. They're cheaper than I thought. Does anyone have any advice about how to avoid really sore fingers? Like, is there a place on the finger or a particular finger that's better to poke?
              Well, most folks use he end of the finger. Me, I use a bit to the side. Since I test twice a day, I can get the morning stick on one side and the evening stick on the other. Working my way thru both hands that gives me 10 days before I have to abuse the same finger again.

              Do note that meters are cheap (you can sometimes even get them for free) because they make the money off the test strips.

              So be sure to price the test strips before settling on a meter. Regardless, you'll swallow your teeth when you see the prices. Don't forget that unless your doctor *tells* you to start testing and writes a prescription for the test strips, your health insurance isn't going to cover the cost.

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              • #8
                I know very little about glucose meters however i donate blood a lot and tend to ask a lot of nosy questions. So this may or may not be useful

                The nurses there said that when taking the blood drop for the iron test they always use the side of the finger, about halfway between the nail and the pad of the finger and about 1-2 centimeters back. It's not so sensitive and therefore doesn't hurt so bad.

                Like this:



                They also always try to go for a "less used" finger of the non-dominant hand. (i.e, not the index finger) as it's not used quite so much.
                Last edited by Golden Phoenix; 06-03-2014, 02:36 PM.

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                • #9
                  Oh, thank you so much, GP. I'm a visual person, so that helps a lot. I'm still debating about the meter. I might request a hemoglobin test. They'll do it if I can come up with some suspicious symptoms. I've currently cut out most added sugar and am at 160 grams carb or less per day. I'm eating as if I were diabetic, diagnosed or not. I'll be communicating with my doctor periodically because I want to get a handle on this.
                  "Is it hot in here to you? It's very warm, isn't it?"--Nero, probably

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