unreliable glucos testing kit - freaking out

[Poppet77]

I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and at 32 weeks have been told to monitor my blood glucose levels 4 times a day. I have been doing this for 5 days. However, after an unusually high reading this morning when I ate exactly the same as yesterday, I checked my results again to find a wildly different result. I did it a few more times to find the results varied from 5.2 to 8.4. I did the same repeat testing tonight to find the results varied from 5.8 to 10.8. Now I am convinced the whole testing has been meaningless and am not confident my blood glucose levels are under control at all. I have been using my results to gauge what to eat, etc and now am scared to eat anything at all as I don't know what effect it is having. Has anyone had a similar problem or can anyone advise what to do. I will not be able to speak to a diabetic nurse until Monday and then I don't know how quickly things will be acted upon. I just feel so our of control of the situation and that I may be damaging baby but nothing I can do to control or stop it. As it is the diagnosis was late due to the fact they didn't get back to me with my abnormal results after the GTT for 3 weeks.

You aren't going to do any harm in just a few days and even your highest reading, 10.8 though higher than they want, is not going to hurt over 2 further days.

Had you washed your hands? Might there have been anything on them to distort the reading? If you like you can go to Boots and buy your own machine. They are not expensive. If you don't want to do that, just be careful to eat no refined carbs until you see the doctor. Eat lots of vegetables, no fruit and get your carbs from pulses for a few days. And don't eat porridge for breakfast as though healthy it is not great for blood sugar. Have eggs and spinach for breakfast.

I've been testing for the last couple of weeks and I'm currently on insulin in the mornings.

I've noticed a few abnormal readings, this evening it was 4.7 which was low for me, considering I had eaten pasta for dinner. Immediately rechecked with a different finger and it was 7.9.

Have you checked the calibration of your machine? You should have a bottle of control solution in your kit and the instructions will tell you how to test.

Try not to worry - keep a record of your results and times, along with what you've eaten. If you are following the diet advice given then that is the best thing you can keep doing. I'm planning on ringing up on Monday morning, but the midwife had even said to me if I had high readings at all, there would be no harm waiting until the following Monday if it was a weekend. Just keep up with what you are doing!

Yes I tested with the control solution and was in the right range for that. Maybe should have done that a few times too. I will definitely buy a new test kit tomorrow. I have not been eating any refined carbs, although have been eating fruit such as Apple, dried apricots, raspberries and oranges. I find it hard to meet my quota of 5+ a day with just veg but will have to do find a way of doing so. Thanks for the advice.

Dried apricots and oranges aren't so great but apples and raspberries are ok.

Due to the very same factor- unreliable readings, I've bought my own kit. How good it is, I don't know. I write down both readings - which are hugely different. Also, I found that testing after 1hr AND then after 2hrs, results are dramatically different.
In conclusion - I don't trust any of it now. Would rather have a "proper" glucose test performed at the hospital because this messing about isn't good for anyone- you're stressed, confused, doing more harm than good.

What prompted them to start you on testing?

OP, I am a type 1 diabetic which is quite different to you, but I do know a lot about testing!
It may be what is on your fingers at the time affecting the readings or it may be the machine. Stress, in type 1 at least, also sends glucose levels up so it may be linked to that.
The Diabetic Nurse (DSN) will help you, and occasional high readings aren't dreadful, it's when they are persistently high.

observer78 a hospital kit would be the same as yours, the same as anyone can buy in Boots.

Nancery I mean the glucose fasting test, NOT a hospital kit, I've one from them already :)

I had an abnormal GTT test (4 and then 10.7 at 2 hours) but having forgotten to contact me about this,I only found it out at my next midwife appt 3 weeks later. And now nearly 5 weeks later I still don't know if my glucose levels are being controlled. I am unbelievably stressed about it. Even though I have really tried to think carefullly about my diet, I have no idea if this is enough, whether I need insulin, etc. I know that gestational diabetes does not pose a threat to foetus if well controlled but uncontrolled can have serious consequences. So basically I am terrified that my baby is being harmed and nothing is being done to stop it . Does anyone know a glucose test kit that is actually properly reliable?

Observer, 1hour and 2hour readings SHOULD be dramatically different if you have eaten a meal with any amount of carbs... The peak level will be at around an hour after eating, and it should be coming back down at 2 hours.

It is very important to wash and dry hands on a clean towel before testing.

Raw, the reason I'm mentioning is because when I was given the kit and verbal instructions - testing after a meal had to commence after an hour. If I couldn't do it after an hour, then it'd have to be after two. What I noticed is the said drastic difference. Ergo, if I tested after 2hrs each time, I wouldn't have a single high reading. Can you appreciate my confusion?
Also, I noticed that there's only the one culprit that pushes the levels up- juice. If I'd had OJ to get baby to move, levels are up. Without it- even after some chocolate and white bread - all is normal. Go figure.
And finally - what are the normal brackets because midwife says one thing, NHS page another, NICE something different. Some clarification would help.

Well, what are your readings after 2hrs typically? "Normal" would be less than 140/7.8 after 2hours. Anything above 155/8.5 after 1hr is not good...
BUT the advice given varies from area to area. When I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, the GTT results were high/normal according to national guidelines but my area was using a much tighter protocol.

That was a number of years ago. Something they don't seem to emphasise, getting GD means you are at very high risk of type2 diabetes (it about 50% within 5 years, if your GTT was above 10 when you were diagnosed). You can change that risk by being aware of the fact that you are already "pre diabetic" even if your numbers return to normal after pregnancy. Buy a meter, test regularly for a few days (I do it every 3 months for 3or 4 days), and tweak your diet accordingly (I follow a Paleo/primal diet which is fantastic for blood sugar levels).

Paleo "safer blood sugar levels" (lower than American or uk guidelines) are Fasting,

That's normal for non-pregnant women raw

Pregnant women naturally have lower blood glucose.
diabetesupdate.blogspot.com/2011/10/normal-blood-sugars-in-pregnancy.html

My targets (I'm in US - every doctor/clinic seems to do it a bit differently here) are under 5(90) for fasting and under 7.8 (140) for 1 hour. If I miss 1 hour, then I do 2 hour and that should be under 6.7.

I prefer it a bit lower after meals to be more like non-diabetic women.

observer it's not surprising that juice gives you high readings. The sugar is very easily absorbed as there's no fibre, protein or fat to slow it down. You can also take in a surprising amount of sugar when you drink it. Many women who fail the GTT can carry on eating more or less normally throughout their pregnancies as long as the carbs are within reason, even white bread - but be aware that things can change quickly as the pregnancy progresses and your hormone levels change.

poppy are you washing and drying your hands before testing? Otherwise you can get weird readings. I agree that the best thing to do is speak to diabetes team asap and tell them the readings. From what I understand, uncontrolled GD is regularly getting readings about 11 or so.

It might be a good idea to hold off on the fruit, especially dried fruit, though if you're getting readings of 10+. I foudn that I can't tolerate any fruit other than some berries. And always pair up fruit with a protein, never eat it on its own. It's really trial and error to identify your 'trigger' foods and the foods you can tolerate. Good luck!!!!