Gestational diabetes - finger prick Vs blood test

[Sarah Lou 80]

Morning all

Feeling a bit stressed this morning! I had my first appointment with the diabetic nurse yesterday and it went well. Lots to take in but feel happy that I'm going to be monitored closely.

I was given a finger prick testing machine and I'm to monitor my levels between now and my appointment next week. The reason I went to see the diabetic nurse is that my fasting blood sugar levels were high. The thing that's bothering me is that when I initially had the GTT test they pricked my finger and the level was normal at 5. I then got a phone call saying the blood test itself had come back high at 8.1. The diabetic nurse stressed that if I keep getting high levels, particularly in the morning on an empty stomach, then I need to go back ASAP as they would need to regulate my morning levels with insulin as diet alone wouldn't resolve it. I'm a bit concerned that the finger prick tests I do at home are going to be inaccurate as they were at the hospital. It measured 4.9 this morning which is good but then when the hospital did it, it measured 5 but was actually 8.1!!!

I will probably phone the nurse and check this with her. I don't want inaccurate readings to mean that I don't get the correct treatment. I also don't want to seem like a paranoid first time mum BUT if she was that adamant that I was to go back straight away if the levels were too high, then surely it's a valid concern?!

Sorry for the ramble! Has anyone had any similar experiences?

x

 

[Sarah Lou 80]

Bump!

 

[daisy72]

All home BG meters have a range of accuracy of at least 15%. You cannot do anything with it, unfortunately. And not only that, different lots of strips can give you different readings.
Where I live, the reading of 90 (which is 5 in units you use in UK) is considered borderline for fasting...
This is my second time with GD, and what really helps me with my fasting numbers is walking for about 40 minutes every evening and then having a small snack with a high-fiber tortilla (10 g of carbs) and a piece of boiled chicken one hour prior to going to bed. with this trick I manage to have my morning reading around 80 (4.4). My diabetic eduator told me that walking (not too fast but not slow) may decrease our insulin resistance for as long as 24 hours. Maybe you could also try this trick and see if it works?
If you suspect that your meter is dramatically wrong vs. the lab, you can order control solution and check the machine. I ordered mine directly from the manufacturer, it arrived in 5 days and was free.

 

[amjon]

Did you use the drops to calibrate your meter?

 

[Sarah Lou 80]

Did you use the drops to calibrate your meter?

I haven't used anything. The nurse set it up for me and didn't mention anything about drops? I did call up though and she said the monitor is a new type and is extremely accurate and that my first reading at the hospital could have been inaccurate for various reasons.....it could have been an old/faulty monitor for example.

I'm still dubious. But hey ho!

Thanks for your replies ladies.

 

[daisy72]

Hi, just curious, what kind of monitor are you using?
From my research, all of them are not too precise, but maybe something has changed...

 

[Sarah Lou 80]

Hi, just curious, what kind of monitor are you using?
From my research, all of them are not too precise, but maybe something has changed...

It's an Accu-Chek Aviva.....might google it and see what comes up!