How reliable are at home blood glucose tests?

[JustlookingNotbuying]

I’ve been feeling a bit off for a while and often get symptoms of low blood sugar.
A friend suggested I tried an at home blood glucose test
I did one yesterday morning. It required fasting so I did the test at 8am and had last eaten at 7pm the night before.
The test looks like it’s come up quite high for blood glucose levels (I have circled the normal levels and mine definitely looks higher)
Obviously I have made a gp appointment but can’t get a telephone appointment until mid April.
I’m 49, have a bmi of 20, so am not over weight, I exercise, I don’t drink alcohol, sugary drinks or eat sweets, cakes etc so don’t fit the ‘at risk’ diabetes profile so am wondering how accurate these tests actually are?
I am a bit concerned now.

T1 diabetic here, diagnosed in my early 30s.

Not familiar with that type of test, so can't vouch for reliability/accuracy of it, but agree that looks out of range and looks to me like a result around 16.5 mmol?

You don't need to be overweight or eat junk to be diagnosed as T1, it's an auto immune condition.

You say you've been feeling rubbish recently- in what way? Tired/ thirsty/ losing weight? I'd suggest perhaps calling back the doctor and highlighting your concern following this test.

For a more accurate test if you feel that would ease your concern (or speed up a doctors appointment) you can purchase a blood glucose monitor and strips for less than £20 from most pharmacies.

The pharmacy can test your blood glucose for free which might be more accurate and recommend a home testing kit.

Many pharmacies will do a (far more accurate) blood glucose test for you, or you could purchase a decent blood glucose meter from them and do a few tests to see your levels. This one is really old school, though saying that, it certainly looks to be testing rather high. Did you wash your hands well before testing? You hadn’t touched any food stuffs had you that morning (maybe getting someone’s breakfast/lunch prepped).

What do you mean by symptoms of low blood sugar? Have you unexpectedly lost any weight recently? Do you have a family history of diabetes?

Doorbellssleighbellschnitzel BlanketsBanned 2022sucksalready thanks, I’ll pop to my local pharmacy and see if they can help as I can not get a GP appointment at all until April!
I have no family history or any particular diabetes symptoms. No weight loss, no thirst or peeing more than normal.
I have been quite tired but that’s not unusual for me, I’ve been very anaemic due to gynae issues, had an iron infusion a month ago which has pushed my levels up but still very tired.
I get these ‘episodes’ which I can only describe as a low blood sugar experience, I suddenly feel very, very tired, weak/shaky and very hungry as though I haven’t eaten for ages, it’s as though all my energy suddenly dissipates and leaves me feeling absolutely knackered. It leaves me feeling like I need to eat loads of carbs or sugary food to feel better. I have had it on/off for years but always put it down to the anaemia.
2022sucksalready I was very thorough with the test, washed my hands well and did the test to the letter, didn’t touch anything after washing my hands.

Doorbellssleighbellschnitzel I didn’t realise you could get diagnosed at a later age. I know a few type 1 sufferers and they were all diagnosed in childhood or teens, I’ll look into it, thanks.

@JustlookingNotbuying, yes I hadn't realised either, until it happened to me! I've since met a few people who were diagnosed in their 30s+ and a friend diagnosed recently in her 40s.