Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Home testing diabetes kit HELP

16 replies

ChristmasBabi · 12/11/2021 23:11

Please can I have some advice if anyone knows about the kits they send you home with to monitor your blood sugar levels (finger prick tests)

I have been told to keep my diet as normal for accurate readings, and do a finger prick test for 5 days alternating between before a meal and 2 hours after a meal each day to see if I could have GD. She told me to stick to regular meals but nothing else.

My question is, on the days where I do the prick test before the meal, am I supposed to not snack inbetween? As I think this might be supposed to be a fasted test and if I snack inbetween then it’s going to give me a similar result to the ones from the next day which are the two hours after your meal readings… I think. Any advice from people who have done this before as a test for GD would be much appreciated! ❤️

OP posts:
Stealhsquirrelnutkin · 13/11/2021 01:03

I think the point of it is to see just how your normal diet effects your blood sugar. If it is normal for you to snack between meals then you should continue to do so. If you eat in a way that is not natural to you, then the results are going to be very useful. So unless you are convinced you can keep that kind of healthy eating regime up forever, you're better off monitoring how you really eat, and using that as a starting point for any changes you may need to make.

You might find it interesting to check what your blood sugar levels do on days when you eat your normal snacks, how they change on days when you replace your normal snack with a low carb snack (boiled egg/cottage cheese/celery) and what happens on days when you cut out the snacking entirely.

The glucose meter is a really nifty tool once you get the hang of using it. My first one was a massive learning experience. I was bewildered when I discovered that eating a pizza in the evening could send my blood glucose soaring, and keep it high until the middle of the next day, when other meals of similar carb and energy content did not have the same effect. Even more weirdly, baked potato raised my blood sugar for longer than the exact same amount, of the exact same variety of potato (from the same bag) that had been boiled instead of baked. (Google "glycemic index glycemic load" for the explanation.)

I think the main point of using the meter is for you to learn how different foods effect your blood sugar, and what (comparatively) painless changes you can make to get the levels steady, and within safe parameters.

Try eating your favourite meals and then maybe tweaking them to be a bit less carb rich by swapping some of the ingredients - like using whizzed cauliflower as a pizza base (not as bad as it sounds), to see how the changes effect your blood sugar.

As well as writing down the glucose levels from each test it can be really helpful to jot down what you have eaten, so you can build a database of how foods effect your blood glucose levels.

Good luck with it, and remember that you are doing all the testing to teach yourself, and help you regain control. The diabetes nurse/doctor will be doing their jobs, but they are not really going to be anywhere near as invested in your results as you should be yourself. It's your health, you are the person most concerned by it, and getting control of your glucose levels is going to be your own responsibility.

ChristmasBabi · 13/11/2021 07:12

@Stealhsquirrelnutkin

I think the point of it is to see just how your normal diet effects your blood sugar. If it is normal for you to snack between meals then you should continue to do so. If you eat in a way that is not natural to you, then the results are going to be very useful. So unless you are convinced you can keep that kind of healthy eating regime up forever, you're better off monitoring how you really eat, and using that as a starting point for any changes you may need to make.

You might find it interesting to check what your blood sugar levels do on days when you eat your normal snacks, how they change on days when you replace your normal snack with a low carb snack (boiled egg/cottage cheese/celery) and what happens on days when you cut out the snacking entirely.

The glucose meter is a really nifty tool once you get the hang of using it. My first one was a massive learning experience. I was bewildered when I discovered that eating a pizza in the evening could send my blood glucose soaring, and keep it high until the middle of the next day, when other meals of similar carb and energy content did not have the same effect. Even more weirdly, baked potato raised my blood sugar for longer than the exact same amount, of the exact same variety of potato (from the same bag) that had been boiled instead of baked. (Google "glycemic index glycemic load" for the explanation.)

I think the main point of using the meter is for you to learn how different foods effect your blood sugar, and what (comparatively) painless changes you can make to get the levels steady, and within safe parameters.

Try eating your favourite meals and then maybe tweaking them to be a bit less carb rich by swapping some of the ingredients - like using whizzed cauliflower as a pizza base (not as bad as it sounds), to see how the changes effect your blood sugar.

As well as writing down the glucose levels from each test it can be really helpful to jot down what you have eaten, so you can build a database of how foods effect your blood glucose levels.

Good luck with it, and remember that you are doing all the testing to teach yourself, and help you regain control. The diabetes nurse/doctor will be doing their jobs, but they are not really going to be anywhere near as invested in your results as you should be yourself. It's your health, you are the person most concerned by it, and getting control of your glucose levels is going to be your own responsibility.

Thank you @Stealhsquirrelnutkin tbh they seem okay from the testing I have done so far it is a precaution to (hopefully) rule out GD as I have high fluid and a large baby by the growth scans!

I just didn't understand the "before meal" one as I thought well is the before meal reading going to look like the two hour after eating reading if I have a snack inbetween?

Also the two hour after one, should I not snack in between then either? So that gives a reading of my levels two hours after eating and if I snack in those two hours I assume that will affect the reading?

I'm just confused! I was at the assessment unit
For hours yesterday and the poor midwife's were so busy I don't think they had time to explain it and I was in pain (as I also have a kidney and uti infection) so didn't think of these questions at the time!

OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 13/11/2021 07:21

I don't think you should be eating a snack less than 2 hours after a meal but the point is to see where your sugar is at on your current diet. If you have GD it would probably start to go quite low just before you eat. If they wanted a fasting one they would ask for first thing in the morning (I used to do that one).

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

earlydoors42 · 13/11/2021 07:21

What have your readings been? I agree before a meal doesn't have to be fasted, just normal for you between a meal. I'm assuming your snacks aren't huge and extremely carby?

MerryMarigold · 13/11/2021 07:22

Ps. I had GD with twins and it was a bit of a nightmare so fingers crossed you are ok.

peoniesandpastels · 13/11/2021 07:30

I have GD and I test before and after meals. My diabetes midwife has advised me that a gap of 2 hours between a small snack and a fasting pre-meal reading is fine. If you snack on something particularly carbohydrate heavy, you may find that this reading is higher.

This is post-diagnosis advice though.

I cannot recommend the gestational diabetes UK Facebook group enough as a place to ask questions- lots of very knowledgeable, welcoming ladies.

ChristmasBabi · 13/11/2021 07:54

Thank you everyone for your advice!

My readings have been in the 4's mostly, last night it was 5.6 for my before bed reading around 3 and a half hours after eating my tea. I was a bit later as I had to eat my meals later yesterday due to the time I got out of hospital to do the readings.

That makes complete sense about the two hours snack thing too and I'm pleased I can snack because I am deffo used to grazing now rather than set regular meals! I'm 34 weeks so have a smaller stomach and don't like to go hours without eating!

OP posts:
ChristmasBabi · 13/11/2021 07:57

Thank you @MerryMarigold I am really
Hoping that I haven't got it tbh but all the signs do point to it unfortunately.

@peoniesandpastels no not usually! I like yoghurts and fruit etc but I know some of these may spike so I'm just feeling a bit confused on it all thank you ☺️

OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 13/11/2021 08:11

The readings sound good but it was 13 years ago. My niece is Type1 diabetic and it's worrying if she goes above 10 or below 4. I was huge with ds1 but not GD, just had bad muscles, small hips and he was medium large!

ChristmasBabi · 13/11/2021 08:38

@MerryMarigold that sounds positive thank you! I think today when I do the two hour after eating test will be the indicator and as much as I hope it isn't I want it to be as accurate as possible because if I do have it it's much safer for little one if it's diagnosed!

Hahha I am hoping I might be the same as you then ❤️ fingers crossed for me!

OP posts:
MotherWol · 13/11/2021 08:38

Really worth joining the Gestational Diabetes UK Facebook group, it’s run by the lady who runs this website and it’s an absolute goldmine of useful advice on how to manage GD www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk

ChristmasBabi · 13/11/2021 09:25

@MotherWol thank you! I don't have Facebook tbh but I will have a look at the website! Still fingers crossed I don't have it but if I do then I will do everything I possibly can to manage it!

I'm usually quite fit but over lockdown I piled on two stone, then when the gyms reopened I fell pregnant the same week so I've just spiralled from there really 😓

Never too late though! Hopefully anyway

OP posts:
MotherWol · 13/11/2021 16:17

@ChristmasBabi it’s a bit overwhelming at first but I promise you’ve got this. If you’re diagnosed you’ll get a testing kit; the core of the diet is restricting sugar and keeping your carb portions in check. Like you I went from being super-active (cycled 40 miles per week!) to nothing in lockdown and comfort eating to deal with stress. By following the GD diet I actually was actually in better shape after birth than I had been pre-pregnancy, I lost 6kg! I’m still trying to stick to it with lots of fruit & veg and watching carbs and sugar as I feel so much better and I want to avoid type 2 developing. Good luck!

ChristmasBabi · 13/11/2021 16:26

@MotherWol that is really encouraging to read! Honestly lockdown has a lot to answer for doesnt it 😂 Are you ever able to get rid of it or is it one of those things once we have it it's here forever?

My readings today have all been under 7.8 when I have eaten and I have stuck to my normal (poor) diet to give an accurate reflection too so I am super super hopeful ❤️

OP posts:
Fleur405 · 13/11/2021 16:38

Given these instructions I would eat as normal but keep a food diary so they can see how the numbers relate to what/when you eat. Odd that they haven’t asked you to take your blood sugar levels first thing in the morning as that is quite standard will tell you your fasting levels.

GD is caused by pregnancy hormones so it goes away after birth. My blood sugars were normal the next day. You are supposed to have a further test between 6 and 12 weeks post-partum but because of COVID I never got that. So the GD will definitely go away but you are at increases risk for type 2 diabetes.

ChristmasBabi · 13/11/2021 17:08

@Fleur405 on the alternate days I have to take a test before breakfast so I suppose that one might count toward a fasting one! They crossed out the during the night one though and I'm pleased 😂

Thank you that makes me feel better about it mind and I suppose I've got to 34 weeks before getting it if I have got it so I've been luckier than some too.

I've deffo stuck to my terrible diet as I really want it to be accurate as it's the safest for my baby if I have it anyway to be diagnosed even if I will feel disheartened at it. Thank you for your advice xx

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread