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Suggest Treatment For Gestational Diabetes
Question: I AM 33 WEEKS PREGNANT AND HAVE GESTATIONAL DIABETES AS WELL AS LOW IRON. MY RED BLOOD CELL COUNT WAS 8. AS YOU ALREADY KNOW ANYTHING BELOW 8 WOULD MEAN I WOULD NEED A BLOOD TRANSFUSION. MY OBGYN SAID TO TAKE 3 IRON SUPPLEMENTS OF 65MG EACH DAILY. I HAVE BEEN TAKING THEM FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH. I READ ON DIGEST HEALTH THAT TAKING IRON SUPPLEMENTS CAN MAKE MY BLOOD SUGAR READINGS INACCURATE. IS THIS TRUE? I PRICK MY FINGER 4 TIMES A DAY AND AM FINDING SOME OF MY READINGS ARE A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL 95 WAKE UP AND 120 REST OF THE DAY
Brief Answer:
Iron does not affect sugar estimation
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to Healthcaremagic
Greetings of the day
Dear Ms XXXXXXX
Oral Iron supplements does not alter the accuracy of blood glucose estimation in any way.
Rest be assured there is definitely no cause for concern. Iron is definitely required to be given thrice a day.
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take care
Best regards
Dr Deepak Kaltari
Iron does not affect sugar estimation
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to Healthcaremagic
Greetings of the day
Dear Ms XXXXXXX
Oral Iron supplements does not alter the accuracy of blood glucose estimation in any way.
Rest be assured there is definitely no cause for concern. Iron is definitely required to be given thrice a day.
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take care
Best regards
Dr Deepak Kaltari
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
not according to Diabetes Health: http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/02/16/7449/diabetes-and-anemia-/
How Does Anemia Affect Your Diabetes Care? If you have anemia, your blood glucose tests may not be accurate. Studies that looked at blood glucose monitor accuracy found that low hematocrit levels can falsely increase glucose measurements, leading to monitor test results as much as 20 percent too high. Healthcare providers and patients need to be aware of this combination and consider it when responding to glucose levels, especially when treating patients on insulin. Patients with anemia should ask their healthcare provider which blood glucose meter might be best for people with both anemia and diabetes. This question is currently being evaluated by the XXXXXXX Diabetes Association and the FDA. - See more at: http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/02/16/7449/diabetes-and-anemia-/#sthash.ZaHQo453.dpuf
How Does Anemia Affect Your Diabetes Care? If you have anemia, your blood glucose tests may not be accurate. Studies that looked at blood glucose monitor accuracy found that low hematocrit levels can falsely increase glucose measurements, leading to monitor test results as much as 20 percent too high. Healthcare providers and patients need to be aware of this combination and consider it when responding to glucose levels, especially when treating patients on insulin. Patients with anemia should ask their healthcare provider which blood glucose meter might be best for people with both anemia and diabetes. This question is currently being evaluated by the XXXXXXX Diabetes Association and the FDA. - See more at: http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/02/16/7449/diabetes-and-anemia-/#sthash.ZaHQo453.dpuf
Brief Answer:
glucose estimation is affected by Hematocrit
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Dear Ms XXXXXXX
It is not the intake of Iron which alters the Glucometer reading.
The alteration is dependent on Hematocrit value (Viscosity of blood ). Higher the viscosity or Hematocrit lesser is diffusion of blood into test strip of Glucometer resulting in false low values. Converse is true in case of low Hematocrit.
As pregnancy is a state of high Hematocrit(Hematocrit level falls drastically when Hemoglobin is less than 6 gm percent ). With Hemoglobin of 8 , the Hematocrit is unlikely to be in extremes. Measurement of Hematocrit is required for exact tabulation.
I would also advise you to get
1. Blood glucose estimation from laboratory at lest twice a week
2. Hematocrit estimation
3. Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HBA1C ): THIS gives a true indicator of long term glycemic control
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take care
Best regards
Dr Deepak
glucose estimation is affected by Hematocrit
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Dear Ms XXXXXXX
It is not the intake of Iron which alters the Glucometer reading.
The alteration is dependent on Hematocrit value (Viscosity of blood ). Higher the viscosity or Hematocrit lesser is diffusion of blood into test strip of Glucometer resulting in false low values. Converse is true in case of low Hematocrit.
As pregnancy is a state of high Hematocrit(Hematocrit level falls drastically when Hemoglobin is less than 6 gm percent ). With Hemoglobin of 8 , the Hematocrit is unlikely to be in extremes. Measurement of Hematocrit is required for exact tabulation.
I would also advise you to get
1. Blood glucose estimation from laboratory at lest twice a week
2. Hematocrit estimation
3. Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HBA1C ): THIS gives a true indicator of long term glycemic control
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take care
Best regards
Dr Deepak
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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