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Blood Glucose Tests
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Symptoms of Low or High Blood Glucose
WARNING
The meter is designed to provide a numerical value for blood glucose in the range of
20–600 mg/dL.
Being aware of the symptoms of low or high blood glucose can help you understand your test
results and decide what to do if they seem unusual.
Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia): Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include, but are not limited
to, anxiety, shakiness, sweating, headache, increased hunger, dizziness, pale skin color, sudden
change in mood or irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, clumsiness, palpitations, and/or
confusion.
High blood glucose (hyperglycemia): Symptoms of hyperglycemia may include, but are not
limited to, increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, drowsiness, and/or unexplained
weight loss.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or other unusual symptoms, test your blood
glucose from the fingertip. If your blood glucose result is displayed as LO or HI, follow your
healthcare professional's instructions or contact your healthcare professional immediately. If
your blood glucose result does not match how you feel, follow the steps in the Unusual Blood
Glucose Results section of this chapter.
Comparing Your Meter Result to a Laboratory Result
A common question is how the blood glucose results on the meter compare to the laboratory results. Your
blood glucose can change quickly, especially after eating, taking medication, or physical activity. If you
test yourself in the morning, then go to your healthcare professional's office for a blood glucose test, your
test results will probably not match, even if you are fasting. This is typically not a problem with the meter,
it just means that time has elapsed and your blood glucose level has changed.
Although you always apply fresh capillary whole blood to the test strip, the system has been calibrated to
deliver plasma-like values for easier comparison to laboratory results.
If you want to compare your meter result to the laboratory result, you must be fasting. Take the meter to
your healthcare professional's office and test yourself by fingerstick within 5 minutes of having blood
drawn from your arm by a healthcare professional. Keep in mind that the laboratory uses different
technology than the meter and that blood glucose meters for self-testing generally read somewhat lower
than the laboratory result.
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