Your Blood Sugar Reading is False! Here is Why.

Not every blood glucose test you do at home with your glucometer gives you an accurate blood sugar result. The main reasons why your blood sugar meter gives you incorrect readings are discussed in this video.
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I regularly release videos covering diabetes topics. Let me know if you have any questions or topics you would like me to cover. I really appreciate your input!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and my videos are not medical advice. What works for me might not work for others. Please consult your medical professional regarding your diabetes treatment.
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#typeonetalks

[@TypeOneTalks]

Please let me know your experience with incorrect blood sugar readings. Want to chat more? Book a call with me here calendly.com/typeonetalks or message me directly on Patreon. I respond to every question www.patreon.com/typeonetalks

[@marlenegold280]

Considering you don’t look like you have T2D, why is your blood sugar that high at baseline?

[@carriewittbrodt5072]

Where do I get the test solution? I'm using my Libre2 and those test strips for testing my bs. T1D.

[@kfw7742]

Apparently an a1c test in the lab only tests for glucose levels. Does not include sugars from fructose etc. Therefore if a person eats a lot of fruit, milk etc it is not reflected in the result. I am assuming this would be the same in a finger prick test too.?

[@anitastokar98]

@@kfw7742 That doesn't seem correct? I would assume if you eat fructose, that would increase your blood glucose levels so that is then reflected in A1c levels.

[@kfw7742]

@@anitastokar98 the test only checks for glucose. Up to Sept 22 at time of reading report, there wasn't a laboratory in the USA or Europe that included levels of fructose in the a1c tests.

[@DillanBurgess-pl6pg]

To everyone reading this, I sincerely pray for that whatever is causing you pain or stress will pass. May your negative thoughts, excessive worries and doubts disappear, replaced by clarity and understanding. May your life be filled with peace, tranquility and love

[@timothytan3981]

Thanks for experimenting on yourself. Using expired strips gave much lower readings for me.

[@AhmedAdly11]

I just discovered I am diabetic and your videos are just wonderful! It is really kind of you to make them and you are doing it so well.

[@iphone-repair-fuengirola]

KZbin a video called how to reverse diabetes in 30 days

[@AhmedAdly11]

@@iphone-repair-fuengirola there are a lot out there, but I connected with Tom the best. Other videos may have even more information, but I felt very grateful for Tom's videos since they got me over the shock

[@robindenver2096]

If you use one of desinfectant wipes, make sure the area is dry before you test. I run into this at the doctors office, they don't wait long enough. The reading will show too low due to the alcohol dilution.

[@erint933]

Wow interesting! I had this happen at the dr too, but the nurse was unkind so I didn't want to say anything in the moment. But do you say something about it to them?

[@TO-ps2qq]

When I was first diagnosed as a diabetic, I tried all fingers. This was done as quickly as possible. I had 9 different readings. If I remember correctly the readings varied by 15 points.

[@fiuntar]

Thank you! For the last six weeks I've been trying to figure out why my numbers suddenly jumped 116-124 to 127-133 after this video I checked my nutrition logs and found a change in my supplements bumping my Vit C to over 700mg/day

[@Dan23_7]

Niacin in vitamin B3 can also raise blood sugar too.

[@grandpaseth3779]

​@@Dan23_7vitamin C doesn't actually increase your blood sugar though, its just that the vitamin c in your blood is mistaken as glucose which causes a false high reading. Niacin on the other hand can actually increase your blood sugar.

[@marian6593]

Very interesting and useful information here (and I've been Type 1 for over 50 years). Thanks for your time and advice❤😊

[@Dan23_7]

Excellent video again Tom 👌🏼 I have the accuchek cassette strip meter for my finger pricks. I once took a reading (before I had cgm) and it read “High” Turned out I had some residual vape juice on my finger 😂 I hadn’t washed my hands before testing. But one of the reasons I was put on cgm (nhs) is because I have Raynaud’s. During cold weather I it can strike thus making my finger tips white and impossible to extract blood. I love the tip for testing drinks 😂😂

[@mpp2498]

Thanks for the V C tip. Also, what about using rubbing alcohol before pricking as they do in medical settings?

[@EbonandEli10]

I was hoping you would do a test with an alcohol wipe. I’ve suspected they might increase my reading

[@randall1715]

Loved your video's glucometers. Everyone should watch both video's, very valuable information. Thanks for take all those pricks for us!!!

[@Dormices]

Thanks for that, it will be very useful indeed.I appreciate the pain you put yourself through to help us all. I particularly liked the less painful shallow stab setting I never thought of before. The stability of my Libre 2 sensors is such that a low glucose warning alarm goes to high reading in a few seconds because I just stood up. Maybe it's my age [75] combined with rotten health. At such times I need an accurate blood test!

[@georgehoeflinger1400]

The accuracy of consumer glucometers is +/- up to 10%, so there can be a wide variety of readings. Your readings are within this range.

[@dwightl5863]

Agree with your comment. All of those readings, except for the orange juice contaminated one, are plenty close to make treatment decisions.

[@aletheia3]

Exactly. Thank you!

[@Dilsli]

This! 👍🏼

[@coopgm]

He adresses this 4 minutes into the video.

[@fakhiraamin4599]

P​@@coopgm

[@LeofromFreo]

One further point to note is that if you push too hard to get a drop of blood, this can also affect the reading. Something happens with blood at the molecular level which has an impact on the glucose in the blood. At least that's what I was advised. Anyone else heard the same thing? Always best to have a good sized drop of blood.

[@susanp102]

Yes, it can cause lysis, or breakdown of the blood cell.

[@Assimilator1]

Didn't know that! Good to know, although I don't normally have to squeeze hard.

[@dwightl5863]

Possible because you are pressing so hard to get a sample other fluids are getting into the mix and "watering" down the sample.

[@dlrmadison]

That is what my dr told me-don’t squeeze for best accuracy

[@LeofromFreo]

Good responses to this comment. Thanks everyone.

[@michelekuhne9179]

I have been wondering about this topic recently, thank you for this!

[@esd251]

Berberine in the morning and Amla in the evening help my morning and bedtime reading to around 4 mmol (90's). Except after I have a major meal at dinner time which is usually spike around 8.0-8.5 (150ish.), then back to 5.0-5.5 (90's) once past the 2-hour mark after eating.

[@antoinettebrown3834]

This was sooo very helpful!

[@littlevoice_11]

Also if you have moisturizer on your hand or residue left, especially if it includes vit c as an ingredient

[@jpridie]

Wonderful thank you so much for the tests you are doing for us diabetics I’m T2D and learned a lot from your channel on KZbin. I nearly got sucked in on buying a blood sugar monitoring watch now I see they don’t really work so I will be getting another smart watch without the blood sugar monitor, thanks again 🇨🇦Alberta All the best!

[@Xubono]

Another issue that may cause inaccurate readings is cross contamination from the lancets. While it isn’t easy or practical to change the lancet every time, and while they don’t explicitly instruct you to always use a fresh lancet, manufacturers assume you do. So if your previous measure was quite high after consuming lots of sugar, using the same lancet might give you a false high later.

[@Xubono]

@@wan2852 Lol.. ok you’ve had a hypoglycaemic crisis and had one or two of your emergency glucose lollies … and a coca-cola. …

[@bobboscarato1313]

They ALWAYS tell you to install test strip and replace lancet!

[@Xubono]

@@bobboscarato1313 And yet they are sold separately. At my local pharmacy, the quantity and variety of test strips outnumbers that of lancets by at least 10:1.

[@kennethpayne8575]

I clean the tip of my lancet with alcohol wipe for reuse.

[@capnkirk5528]

Awesome study. Thanks for doing the test!

[@girlgeekFL]

I use an alcohol wipe, and also wipe the first blood drop on a clean paper towels, them collect the next drop on the test strip.

[@janomisovec4119]

thanks for the great warning, that's exactly what happened to me, I was cleaning fruit and didn't wash my hands enough, and then after measuring incorrectly, I gave myself a higher dose of insulin...

[@taniagoldman]

I once had two glucometers and did a test whereby I did 2 tests, one on each glucometer but from the same drop of blood there was quite a different result recrded on each glucometer

[@scottjones6624]

I recently did this same thing between the Freestyle Lite and the Contour Next Gen in the BG range of 80-100. 10 tests over 24 hours showed averages about -2mg/dl on the Contour so essentially the same.

[@pennyfarthing1372]

Just a couple of more thoughts: 1. Sweat contains sugars so if it is a hot day make sure to have everything ready to go as soon as you’ve washed and dried your hands. 2. The glucose in your blood is not exactly the same concentration throughout. This means even if you test two different drops taken in close succession there may be some variation in reading. However, the variation is not likely to be huge. With all the factors taken into account and bearing in mind blood sugars are always changing in living beings and that there is also some variation even in lab tests, these numbers seem quite reasonable.

[@GreatBeyond74]

Yup on a hot sticky noon

[@gmatt2498]

Wow! Thx I really didn't know that it can cause false reading like that! Guess we have to really be careful.

[@ForeverHealthUS]

Great video! Your explanation about the fluctuation of blood sugar levels really helped me understand more about health management. Thank you for sharing these practical tips!

[@pollux901]

Great video, Tom! Thank you :)

[@franrushie.510]

I have 2 glucose monitors… one is old 2021.. I just learned how to use it… then I just bought one for $70.00.. the old one gives me a lower reading.. I like that one best.

[@shirleywilhelm1495]

A friend showed me how to test my blood sugar, cause Dr that diagnosed me didn't bother, handed me the bag with everything in it. I use the side of the finger instead of tip .

[@theresamelvin60]

I had a faulty meter which was giving me false readings making them higher than what they were unfortunately I had a hypo through this I was sent a replacement meter so things are a lot better

[@ceciliapreziose3783]

You are fantastic, clear precise

[@Chaves_Novo_Quiz]

Thank you very much to made this sacrifice for us.

[@martita080213]

To normalne, że cukier za każdym razem może pokazywać inne wartości. To organizm żywy, gdzie ciągle zachodzą procesy. A glukometr to tylko urządzenie i ma określony procent błędu.

[@peterwolf2832]

I have been a type 1 diabetic for 40 years now and your experiment is good information for the unseasoned people who are diabetic! I have a scenario that I would like to share with you? I have tested my blood sugar back to back with the same drop of blood just a much bigger drop of blood from my finger using the same meter with 2 different different new strips and there was a 15 point difference between both tests! So which reading was correct? Answer!! Both of them were correct for the definition of what home blood glucose meters were designed for? A blood glucose test is just capturing a moment in time of your blood sugar! The biggest question is where was your blood sugar 15 minutes before and where will it be 15 minutes after?

[@realtyvideotours2629]

What about using alcohol pads to clean your finger?

[@karencarbone2603]

Thank you so much for this video! I always wondered why I get different readings on different fingers. Your video is the first one I found that actually explains this. Love your videos!❤😊

[@susanp102]

Here's another tip from a retired RN: prick the sides of ur fingers, not the tips, so if u prick often, ur fingers won't be sore.

[@garymoore4909]

Thats what I was thinking I always do the sides when I test. Im sure with the advances in medical tech these days there should be a less painful way of doing this though.

[@ae4116]

I keep telling my husband this but he does listen.

[@lozetchells9164]

Gotta admit, both my glucometers give me variance between successive readings that's often way in excess of the permitted 10%. I usually have to do a best out of 3. Another reason unreliable Libres is so annoying!

[@sodbuster4411]

Thanks for doing this. It was very informative.

[@smrtzttspanishenglishtutor67]

Numbers are different. The most important is to have an overall idea.

[@reversediabetesa1c]

You're right! Vitamin C also throws off the meter.

[@Bewefau]

you don't use alcohol pads before you do it ?

[@anitastokar98]

I am surprised you always did the tip tops of your fingers to test your blood. I always use the sides of my fingers (I very rarely use my fingers though because I use a CGM) and was expecting you to compare the sides verses the tips (not a critique mind you as you did MANY variables). I also know that people sometimes use an arm, but I have heard that those readings shouldn't be used if your blood sugar is rising or falling, sort of like a CGM being more inaccurate if blood sugar is rapidly increasing or decreasing.

[@dwightl5863]

I use the sides as well. Less painful, better blood flow, and prevents callouses from forming so the sense of touch is less affected.

[@djstretchtone9851]

I'm new to diabetes information. Can you suggest a link for more more information on CGM?

[@annaslattery3878]

what about if you're in an area where you're unable to wash your hands, but use alcohol wipes instead?

[@dwightl5863]

Better then not at all. Use saliva to get the big chunks off and then the alcohol wipe.

[@darlenericotta]

Great information! Thanks!

[@palashsaha8014]

Contour test strips are designed to perform tests in hematocrit range from 0 to 70. So hydrated or not your test result wont get affected.

[@jeffgilmore3147]

For my Freestyle Libre 3, I use SkinTac first for better adhesion. I wonder if that makes any difference?

[@carolmurray5794]

Change the battery in your meter before changing your meter. That sometimes makes a difference

[@Frazec_Atsjenkov]

7:56 In my experience the first 30 seconds of your body being in icey water are the worst. After that, the body starts to react to make it bearable. There are also techniques to activate your natural heating system.

[@LunaStar666]

The thing is, when I'm having a hypo, I don't think to wash and dry my hands, I just finger prick just to double check against my Freestyle Libre 2 sensor.

[@honeycomb8753]

You are supposed to wipe the first drop of blood off, or you'll get bad results.

[@mrsolsticeslots]

That's right

[@aguslugiman9067]

Agree 😊

[@pouncerminned863]

why?

[@mrsolsticeslots]

@@pouncerminned863 to clean the area feom any possible contaminants that will affect your reading.

[@Dharmarenee]

@@pouncerminned863There is more tissue fluid in the first sample which can dilute the sample and the results. You should also use a sample that you had to squeeze excessively to get a sample. Wipe the drop away with a cotton ball and not alcohol.

[@tanergenc4109]

Diabet hapı içtikten sonra tokluk şekeri kaç olmalı

[@TheDirthound]

I heard milking your finger can cause inaccurate reading due to the interstitial fluids that mix with the blood.

[@seethajayasinghe2532]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@GREATTECH1]

You could have then used warm to hot water to heat your hands. I'd like to see what high body temperature does to blood sugar. Thanks!

[@ashishthakur4071]

I am 23 year old my fasting blood sugar level is 104

[@qtzt8278]

Normally we pitch ( massage a bit) our finger and wipe / cleanse it with alcohol swab before we take blood for glucose test. Just make sure your glucometer are from trusted brand.

[@voiceofraisin241]

How about a test where you leave the drop of blood on your finger for an extended period of time before you touch the strip?

[@teddybear4020]

I tested. 108 . About 11pm. And at 930 this morning it was 107 . Yes I've been up since 11pm . ! I went to bed super early .

[@susanmurphy7807]

Great video Tom, your poor fingers must have been sore 🤗

[@sfaininja4224]

Great video, thanks for presenting this information.

[@sincereharmony7264]

I use an alcohol wipe before each test. I noticed at the hospital that they use an alcohol wipe. Prick and wipe the first blood off with a wipe then squeeze blood out again. They test on the second squeeze of blood to avoid a false low they said.

[@wecandothiswarriors]

Yep I was getting this so I binned it..Just eat plant based, very low carb and zero sugars

[@aidendutton8352]

Hey dude, thanks for this video, you missed one which is important, Hand Sanitiser - never do your measurement after using it, I think it's because it contains perfumes or something like that, but it's another to add to the list 👍

[@davidhopkins]

Alcohol swabs. Sometimes I clean my finger with rubbing alcohol. Then I debate if the remaining liquid is ok. Should I remove the alcohol with something. What if that introduces dirt?

[@javaxp1]

Main test is missing.. Alcohol swab test.. i wanted to know how sanitising finger with an alcohol swab affects the reading

[@noelhall945]

The Libre 2 has a Test Strip option. Yes, they are not exact, but it is the changes that we are watching. Prick in the same place to allow a corn to develop the SIDE of the pinky is best for least pain. NEVER in the center of the finger !

[@Dynamytguy]

What about cleaning your finger with an alcohol pad b4 testing?

[@MakiKinder]

Thanks. The info is very helpful. I do have a question. What if instead of washing my hands, I clean them by using alcohol or hand sanitizer ? Does this impact the reading significantly?

[@naturaldiva67]

I wonder if this could also apply to hand soaps? ..because some soaps have fragrances of fruits.

[@Josh981]

I have found this problem with the libre view blood sensor 2.

[@spirodimotsantos1801]

What if you drink a glass of water before the test

[@alfonsogobaleza7968]

It never the same, I done that. I checked the calibration, by using control solution. For a peace of mind.

[@robertlloyd9236]

Hi my friend your so good at giving us valuable information your a super star thanks for your service do you think apple cider vinegar helps London UK 🇬🇧

[@mattnobrega6621]

Great video. I experience different blood glucose readings despite doing the right things. Sometimes when I get and unusual number I will retest and the number comes out different. This also applies to my fasting glucose when I get up in the morning. If you do exactly the same thing(food, exercise, hydration, ect.) before each prick, then I would imagine theoretically you should get the same reading. But, I learned that's not the case 🤔 I use the "accu-check guide me" brand glucose meter and test strips amd I have my lancing device set for the highest setting(#5) as my doctor recommended it for better lancing results🤷‍♂️ Most of the time, Idk if I'm being given bs(to keep up with medical board standards(which I don't really trust). But anyways, I'm glad I have information from a person with many years experience with type 1 diabetes like you. I feel much better with getting information. Thanks Tom 😁👍

[@susanp102]

Ur activity level may be affecting ur readings.

[@dwightl5863]

Never expect to get same readings under "similar" circumstances. Even a non-diabetic will have different readings. Relax.

[@PsychNurse.]

I've been taught to wipe first drop of blood off before applying too glucometer strip. You didn't wipe first. Why? Thanks in advance

[@philliplarson8005]

I have always used alcohol to do the cleaning. I have found tht you can get very different readings using different test strips on the same drop of blood.

[@MonkeyboyBurke]

ive found hand sanitizer really messes with my values too.

[@djmooncheeks1515]

I'd like to see you try the Genteel lancet. You can do tests on other parts of your body, not just fingertips.

[@vitalie96]

9:10 when I did testing with the expired strips and with the up to date strips, I didn't see much difference.

[@jaceri139]

Dipping the glucometer strip in the pop is a hell of a tip. I didnt know you could do that! I never trust anything being served in a restaurant so i always shove it in my girlfriends face to taste it lol. “Is this diet?”

[@AhmedAdly11]

Oh, one more thing i just discovered... you might think I am crazy. It seems that my right hand fingers yield a higher blood sugar reading than the fingers on my left hand! Could this be possible???

[@SheWolf1968]

Thanks for the info x

[@sharinaross1865]

Pretty cool that your testing a can of coka cola blood sugar.

[@stephenfleming5979]

Diabetic should not be drinking any soda.

[@shopdelilah]

Blown away that you can test your diet soda!!

[@haydnblackburn4724]

Good day, On Fora Diamond Mini meters the less blood makes higher Blood Glucose Readings and its extremely sensitive to hand creams and contaminants on the hands like fruit residues and food left on unwashed hands.

[@derekhobbs1102]

I was told to take vitamin C to reduce the BGL peaks.

[@Jake-ky9ed]

Did mine on the glucometer off the engine and it was 129, went straight to the ambient and checked it with that glucometer and it was 142 on that one????? Can be frustrating --

[@firstlast1732]

If you take a reading of the same blood drop it does the same thing that readings are different so I take an average of the two readings from the same blood drop it doesn't matter you don't need to do a separate finger

[@babytigtig3795]

I wish you had tried more brands of meters to compare.

[@williansato7061]

Muito bom o video! Obrigado! Great video! Thank you

[@sgfx]

i have taken multiple reading not only from the same finger but from the same blood seconds apart and gotten wily different readings

[@jaymiedivinagracia1977]

What about if you clean your finger w an alcohol wipe before pricking?

[@nickbardan3867]

I don't see all these different readings at the same time as significant

[@Roadpizza]

Been through this time and time again.

[@daniele_go]

With a CGM this test would have been even better !

[@trail.blazer]

Don't take a blood glucose reading after taking vitamin C, particularly high dose vitamin C. The vitamin C molecule is very similar to glucose and can cause an incorrect increase in blood glucose. If you swab your finger with alcohol before pricking, then ensure the alcohol is fully evaporated. I swab, let it dry a moment, prick, squeeze and wipe off the first drop, then squeeze again to get a big drop to test with. If my first prick is not deep enough, I always prick again rather than squeeze too hard. I alternate fingers throughout the day and vary using sides/tops, but do still get very consistent readings. Occasionally I think I get a bad strip, like once I measured over 9 (I had never been that high before!) did a couple of retests and was back to 6.5 postprandial. I'm not diabetic but I test quite regularly to observe the effects of different activities and foods.