Anyone else own a glucometer and can't stop testing??

[mariea]

Hi Everyone-
I'm new here and have health anxiety.  I bought a glucose meter because my fasting glucose was 91.  I know it is in normal range, but everything I read says it should be around 83.  I got some really high numbers one hour after eating, but my dr felt it was from being so anxious when testing(I was also on birth control at the time and later found out that can affect your numbers).  I would literally be shaking by the time I took my blood because I was afraid of what the number might be. Many times my numbers were fine, but not when I was anxious.  I got further testing from the dr and everything came out fine.  However I still get freaked out if I see an off number. I joined a diabetes forum and most of the people thought I was fine and feel that i am obsessing and need help with anxiety, but a few feel that I am on my way to becoming prediabetic (which then usually leads to diabetes) and I better change my diet (which is very healthy, but not strict low carb like some of them follow. I'm vegetarain so it is hard to follow such a strict low carb diet)  I finally put the meter away last night after acting like a drug addict and pricking myself like 30 times yesterday, but I still don't feel good about things.  Anyone else worried about thier glucose levels?

[JunoX]

To get accurate readings, you should check your blood sugar two hours after eating, not one hour. Anything 140 or below, two hours after eating is considered normal but of course, the closer to a fasting reading, which is below 120, is even better. It depends on what you ate. You should avoid it being above 140 two hours after eating though.

These are the standard numbers for a normal person without diabetes and it is what a diabetics goals should be as far as glucose control. You will see a lot of varying information on the internet but the numbers I just gave you are the standard that doctors are going by. Your glucose goals may be a little different, depending on what you want to treat. For example, I like to keep my blood sugar below 100 when fasting. I want it to be 115 - 120 two hours after eating. I have been able to accomplish that by strict Carb control. I do not eat anything above 30 carbs in one meal. The standard is nothing above 60 carbs in one meal for a diabetic. The reason I am following a more strict control is because I am hyperglycemic and I'm very sensitive to processed carbs. Even a small amount of processed carbs drives my blood sugar into the 200's. No carbs, no sugar problems for me.

No one should test the way you are. You can not get accurate readings by testing 30 times a day. You need to test once in the morning, while still fasting and two hours after your largest meal, which would be dinner. You have to do this for about two weeks so you can get an average glucose range since individual readings are not indicators of pre-diabetes or diabetes. Problems with sugar happen when excess sugar in the blood remains there for many hours or even days. Sugar destroys the body with consistency not individual readings. Your blood sugar has to remain elevated for a very long period of time, usually without your knowledge, as in decades, for damage to occur. Of course by that time you would be a full diabetic and having significant health issues.

If your serious about checking your glucose because your curious, follow my instructions above and then discuss your glucose log with your doctor for their opinion. In fact, I encourage you to because diabetes is a silent disease that only shows symptoms once it is well advanced and more difficult to control. I found out about my hyperglycemia by accident because I was curious as well. Good thing I was because I have been able to control a potential future problem before it became one.

So follow the instructions because testing 30 times a day is not taking control to solve the problem, its just obsession.

[LindaRK]

Great advice from JunoX.  I went through a period of testing before Christmas.  I was under alot of stress and had symptoms like yours.  I completely lost control and was testing myself throughout the day .....

That being said, I feel like I'm "coming clean" saying this since I've had anxiety for over 36 years .... you would think I would know better, but sometimes we take a step backwards.

Anyway, stress can contribute to increase numbers as well, but 91?  That is completely within a well accepted range of normality for glucose reading.

[mariea]

Thank you so much.  My 2 hours are always fine, around 100, no matter what I eat (unless I have something that is known to spike later like pizza, then my highest number will be at 2 hours, but still about 120.  My fasting is usually around 88-92 on my meter.  When I read bloodsugar101.com it said that for most accurate results I needed to test at 1 hr, and then everyone on the diabetes forum said test both at 1 hr and 2 hr.  My 1 hrs were very high...sometimes in the 160's.  By 2 hours I was always around 100.  My dr gave me an AIC and 1 hr glucose test (as I never had 2 hour high numbers) but she thought I was insane.  She felt that I was so panicked checking at one hour that it increased my adrenaline and temporarily increased my blood sugar.  My aic was 5.1, and my 1 hr test was 134.  I was a bit nervous at the test, but not as nervous as usual as I could not see my results right then and there.  I went home and tested right after the lab and I was shaking form panic to know what my results were.  My meter said 175!!!  It was probably 8 minutes after I got my lab test done and I was sure that my peak at exactly would have been over 200, and by two hours I was back to 100.  However, I was on birth control at the time that can cause slight glucose intolerance after meals, so that could have been part of it.  Now I won't let myself test if I am that anxious.  i have put my meter away but still feel very nervous about it.  Most people on the diabetes board think I'm crazy and have anxiety issues, but there are always a couple who say things like "looks like you might be becoming prediabetic to me"  However, others will say that if I got all the tests done and they came out fine then I am not prediabetic.  It's those one or two people who don't agree with the other 10 that stick in my head!  Thanks for listening!

[mollyfin]

Stop testing.  Throw the thing out if you have to.  It's never a bad idea to have a healthier diet and lifestyle, but your constant testing and stressing is going to drive you crazy!

[Slangevar]

Your numbers are well within normal limits... is there any reason why you think you're becoming pre-diabetic? 

I bought mine because my mom is a diabetic; I started to feel actual symptoms of pre-diabetes (thirst, having to pee at night, crashes after eating sugar, etc.), and my fasting blood glucose level crept up to 107. (I know the WHO says the lower limit of pre-diabetes is 110, but the ADA starts it at 100.) 

But as far as I can see, you're totally normal. I agree with the people on the diabetes forum - you're suffering from anxiety, not impaired glucose tolerance.

I think many of us have posted in forums like that to get confirmation of our greatest fears, but it's really unfair to the people in those forums who are genuinely dealing with the issue we only think we have. Do them and yourself a favor - post as much as you like here - you're among friends; start working on the anxiety, and stay away from the diabetes forum until some doctor actually diagnoses you with the condition.

[mariea]

I know you are totally right.  I had bought the meter because my fasting of 91 was high for me.  After some weird 1 hr numbers I joined the forum to ask what I should do and they suggested that I might be prediabetic and needed to get tested.  I did and the tests came out fine. I made myself put the meter away. This was last october. I randomly picked it up again the other day and tested my fasting and for multiple days in a row it was much higher than normal 98-105.  I was in teh middle of an allergy attack at the time (this was about a week ago) and my 14 month old is teething so my nights have been hit or miss with sleeping. I asked if non diabetics could have higher fasting numbers during times of allergies/not sleeping well etc.  Most said "yes you are fine" but the few who had a different opinion obviously freaked me out!  I have no risk factors other than my mom's fasting has been 100-106 the past 5 years (she's 71) and i know they say many times your fasting number is last to go.  So I worry that she may have diabetes.  I have convinced her to get more tests at her next appt.My fasting dropped back to more of the normal range when my allergies were getting better, but then I stopped testing because I get too anxious to see the numbers and I then don't know if my results are skewed.  I had my husband test and he got really anxious because he hates needles.  He chickened out and then I yelled at him to do it and it said 103.  A few minutes later it said 94.Mine did the same one day, was 107 and then dropped to 94 after about 10 minutes.  He has no risk factors either.  Maybe anxiety does bump up the numbers. I know I need to let it go. I swear they shouldn't allow non diabetics (or non prediabetics) to buy glucose meters lol! Thanks for the input!

[Slangevar]

I randomly picked it up again the other day and tested my fasting and for multiple days in a row it was much higher than normal 98-105.

When you say "fasting," you mean you were testing your sugars first thing in the morning after 8 hours of sleep and fasting?  Because if you're getting 3 hours of sleep here and another 3 there with your infant, your sugar numbers are absolutely going to be high.

I have no risk factors other than my mom's fasting has been 100-106 the past 5 years (she's 71)

Everyone's ability to process glucose wanes as they get older. Your mom is doing amazingly!  My mom is four years younger a full-fledged diabetic.

I swear they shouldn't allow non diabetics (or non prediabetics) to buy glucose meters lol!

Nah... we HAers just need to control how we use our tools better. Glucose meters are life-savers in the right hands. :-)

[dancer67]

Yes. And I am convinced I am a pre-diabetic. For the past 3 years my fastin blood sugar has been 103, 105 and 107. The 107 was just this January. I bought myself a meter, and a home A1c test. The home A1c said it was 5.8. I freaked. Kept checking my morning sugar, and it was always between 98 and 104. My two hour PP reading were always below 140. My diet was ALL sugar. 3-4 tbsp of sugar in my coffee, tons of carbs, drinking sweet teas, and eating PB cups.

I checked my blood sugar so much my fingers hurt. I finally called my Dr. because she never mentioned anything about my fasting blood sugar. And told me to STOP testing, run over my meter whatever. She said to cut down on sugar and carbs, and start exercising. Which I have. I have lost about 8 pounds since January. I am still scared though. I have not touched that meter since seeing my Dr. in January. I asked her to check my blood sugar. It was 3 hours after eating, and it was 108. She said that was fine, and they would be concerned if it was 150 or over. It was considered a randon blood glucose test. I told her what my A1c was on my home meter, and she didn't seem at all concerned. I asked for a lab A1c, and I am going to get that done in May.

I KNOW I am a pre-diabetic. I do not understand how I couldn't be. Not with fasting glucose numbers in the high 90's and in the 100's. I have no diabetes in my family. But, I have high blood pressure, a belly, and high Trigs. All of which points to metabolic syndrome.

I think your numbers are fine.

I don't think mine are, at all.

So yea, I have a reason to have anxiety over this. You however, do not.

[mariea]

Thank you everyone-
Dancer-So sorry you have to worry about pre-d.  this is what I hate.  A dr should absolutely do more testing if your fasting numbers are high.  It's very possible that your post meal numbers are ok.  It really depends on what you eat.  If you eat a meal with a lot of fat in it, your blood sugar does not spike til later, so your 3 hour numbers would be what usually showed up on a 2 hour test after eating a lower fat meal.  I was 105 one night before bed after 4 hours of fasting.  I was concerned as I should be back to fasting in the low 90's, but people on the board said not necessarily.  You can't take one random number.  If my numbers were always 105 after fasting 4 hours it would probably mean something, but just once it could be anything.  Maybe I got nervous etc.  I would personally ask for a lab aic and a oral glucose tolerance test. That would tell you exactly what you need to do.  And it sounds like you can make some changes that would probably reverse things for you.  My big concern is I am already almost underweight and eat pretty much no sugar.  I eat a super healthy diet(vegetarian so probably high carb, but still healthy carbs) with a couple not so great meals a week, but rarely eat any refined sugar and never eat fast food etc-except pizza once and a while.  So I am thinking how I am going to make changes to an already boring diet?  And I know what you mean- my fingers are totally bruised.  I hope you can get some lab tests to at least let you know if you even have an issue or not, but I bet if you continue with the cutting down on sugar and some exercise you will see good results!

Slangevar-
I hadn't eaten all night, but in all honesty I haven't had good sleep since my 14 month old was born.  She is actually a great sleeper when not teething, but she is still in our room and I hear every move she makes.  I used to be a deep sleeper and I'm not anymore.  I have a motion monitor to make sure she is breathing but I still wake up and put my hand on her chest.  I guess I have health anxiety for her too lol.  My fastings were high for about 4 days.  It was right around ovulation time, I was sleeping one night ok, the next not because she was up teething, and i had horrible allergies. I'm hoping that this is what contributes to my higher fasting numbers, but I am too scared to test in the morning anymore!  I broke down and tested after lunch today and everything was ok. I don't have these great numbers that the gurus say are the norm- like fasting 83 and at one hour you never even get above 120.  I was still within the norm though so I am going to try my best to not use the meter!! I didn't know that fasting went up as you age.  However if my mom is prediabetic then it means it does run in our family right?  Sorry your mom got diabetes.  It's such a horrible thing and so time consuming to manage. 

[stockwiz]

for what it's worth the american diabetic association's standards for diagnosing type 2 are too lax. Nobody should be going above 140mg/dl at any time ideally. If they do they may slowly be doing more damage to their beta cells and slowly progressing their condition. Try to optimize your glycemic load so you don't go above 140 mg/dl at any time after eating (spread out portion sizes of carby foods over a longer period of time)

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/16422495.php

[mariea]

You know though, that website is exactly what freaked me out and the more research I did, including her studies that she  links to, show that non diabetics can go well over 140, sometimes up to 170 depending on what you eat.  I swear the problem with google is you are getting someone's opinion.  Everyone on the diabetes board praises this website that you posted, but finally someone asked..."why are we all relying on this one person.  She takes the pieces of the study that matches what she says, and leaves the rest out"  It is exactly what is happening and if you actually look at the studies on non diabetics, it's not unusual to go above 140 at times after a super high carb meal.  And supposedly the problems come from sustained high numbers. Non diabetics may get a high number, but it will drop fast.  Now that they have the continuous glucose meter, they are seeing that non diabetics in fact can briefly go up into the 160's, but will rapidly drop.  I don't know.  I'm not saying that the ADA isn't too lax, but that website is very strict in my opinion.  They make it sound like if your fasting is even in the low 90's you are heading down a bad path. I'm sure that is correct for some, but not all obviously.

[kazoo]

Now that is some good scientific detective work, mariea!  Good job.  You really should question 'studies' on the internet.

I once went to the ER after a high carb breakfast (it was nothing but carbs:  cereal, milk, orange juice) and during an acute panic attack.  I was in my mid-30s at the time.  I got a glucose number of 150 and they didn't even blink an eye. Said they get numbers like that all the time.

At this point, 14 years or so later, I am starting to see fasting glucose numbers a bit on the high side (101, 105) on occasion, with more normal numbers also on occasion.  Diabetes runs in my family, although I am thin.  I am concerned about this.... but.... I also am pretty convinced that anxiety ramps up glucose due to the so called fight or flight response.  Because I am so worried about my numbers, I really do not know whether my anxiety interferes with the test.  It appears quite possible to me.  I know that blood sugar and blood pressure both rise with high anxiety, and I have the same problems with blood pressure, a huge difference between my readings at home and at the doctors.  It is extremely frustrating to me, because I don't know what the truth is, and I don't know how to find it in an accurate way.  But, I don't think YOU have a problem, not with the numbers you are seeing.  I definitely think you are over-checking, and that your anxiety might well be getting in the way of accuracy here.

[mariea]

Thanks Kazoo!  Actually 150 isn't bad for being in a panic attack!  I guess it is better to be prepared than not.  Are your numbers over 100 often?  My numbers may be higher when I'm ovulating.  I can't tell and I am not checking anymore (or trying not to) so I won't really know, but I just wonder if menstrual cycle affects it at all.  It's hard to say because how many non diabetics check their glucose all the time lol. It's so hard to compare!

[kazoo]

I've had numbers over 100 (101, 105) twice in the past 3 years, and numbers in the low to mid 90's twice also (which is in normal range).  Prior to that it had been a good 8 years with no testing at all, because I hate testing and doctors and avoid them if possible.  In my 30's I had two tests and one was 99 and one was 87.  I have no data before that.  I am in menopause at age 49, and was in perimenopause for at least 10 years.  I wouldn't be the best person to ask if your cycle affects it.

Based on my own data, I believe that anxiety can raise my fasting blood glucose by about 10 to 12 points.  That can take me from normal (91) to seemingly prediabetic (101).   I don't like tests that can be affected by anxiety, because, as I stated before, I am always very anxious having tests and the results can be affected negatively, which then fuels my anxiety in a vicious cycle scenario.  Some doctors have not been helpful in this regard.  Some have even been sarcastic.  Hence my avoidance pattern, although at the moment I have a doctor who seems more low key.

I don't check my own blood sugar at all at this point.  I do check my own blood pressure, but only a few days a year.   I figure it doesn't change that fast, so no need to do more.  However, since my blood pressure is so high at the doctor's, I take my recent readings with me.

[mariea]

I bet you are fine kazoo.  I am seeing that anxiety can greatly affect the results. My husband got nervous to take the test (on my meter) because he doesn't like needles and it was 103, then dropped to 94 within minutes. I had taken it and gotten 107, and then tested again in 10 minutes, still fasting, and it said 94 twice.  My only conclusion is that it was anxiety and once I calmed down the numbers started to drop.  Stupid anxiety!!!  I swear it is going to kill us!