- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
High-Risk Pregnancy
GD - Strips or Monitor issue?
Hi all,
I'm on my first week testing and my GD nurse said in this first week, if I get an unregularly high or low number, to test again. I have been doing so, but I'll get readings that are WAYYYY off. This am, I checked my levels and they said 156. That's for my fasting! I thought "no way", so I checked again and they were 110 (consistent with my morning numbers).
Yesterday, I checked after lunch. It said 111, which is low for me (I'm constantly high above the range and prepping for having to take insulin shots). I tested again and it was 138.
These aren't the only 2 times, but you get the picture. Why are they so wildly different? I always test on either my middle or ring finger on the same hand. I always wash my hands, then use an alcohol swab before I test. What the....?
Married: 10.28.2004
BFP 1: 2006, m/c 5 weeks
BFP 2: 2008, m/c 10 weeks
BFP 3: 2009, m/c 6 weeks
BFP 4: July 15, 2011
Welcome Parker! Feb. 19, 2012
This discussion has been closed.
Re: GD - Strips or Monitor issue?
My doctor said not to use alcohol to clean the area because residue from the alcohol can mess up your numbers. Maybe try just washing your hands?
ETA: She also said that you should dry your hands with a paper towel because you might be getting residue of food from a dirty towel.
You can use alcohol to clean the area you're planning on using the lancet on.
In health care, we wipe it with alcohol, then when we get blood, we wipe it clean, so there's no alcohol.
Honestly using alcohol preps is a waste of money. It's supposed to be a way to reduce bacteria because rubbing alcohol kills bacteria and viruses. However if you're using a new lancet and new test strip, there shouldn't be any issues if you take the alcohol prep out of the equation.
I'm using an accu-check aviva meter and strips
Good to know!! I tested this time (after bkfst) with an alcohol wipe -- tested 148, then tested just washing my hands -- 130. That's good enough reason for me!
I know I was having issues getting enough blood for some of my tests, so if you're testing on the same finger, are you milking your finger to get more blood? This can affect the number (I did a MAJOR amount of research on this a while ago, especially since most mete directions warn you against doing this). If you test on different fingers even at the same time, you can get different readings, too.
I raised this issue with my MFM's nurse and she told me not to test so many times. The numbers are imperfect by the nature of the machine being imperfect, and they're aware of it. I limit myself to retesting only if I get an insane number (for example, the other day I had a very low-carb meal and was doing a bunch of physical activity after eating and got a reading of 170- have not had a reading that high in weeks. Re-washed my hands and got a 109. Then realized I had picked up a plate from my desk to do the test after washing my hands the first time. Pregnancy brain has me doing this a lot lately lol)
That really sucks since I'm within 10-20% of having a number where I wouldn't have to take the insulin, but I'm just "that much" too high... I'm sure they account for this already, but in my mind, I'm going crazy over it!
This.
It sucks that this is the way it is allowed to be, but it is..
You know I often wonder if doctor's are really factoring this in...some do..some don't. I would always bring it up if they seem to be focusing on just one number that is off. It is better to look at patterns.
You know I often wonder if doctor's are really factoring this in...some do..some don't. I would always bring it up if they seem to be focusing on just one number that is off. It is better to look at patterns.