Effects of medications on Continual Glucose Meters
I have been using a Dexcom Continual Glucose Meter for about a year now and have had very good results. It has allowed for very quick feedback on a more real-time basis. It does take some getting used to and there is a learning curve, but i have been very pleased with the results. It is usually very accurate, however there are conditions or medications that can affect the readings.
Recently I have had an upper respiratory infection and that was after a short bout with the flu.
I started taking Tylenol to combat some of the aches and pains associated with this illness.
I soon noticed that my Continual Glucose Meter started giving readings that were very high and did not match what my standard glucose meter was reading.(With a CGM, you must use a standard glucose meter to take readings twice a day that you then connect to your CGM to keep it accurate in it's readings).
After a few days of craziness, I called Dexcom and told them I thought I had meter problems.
The technician asked if I was taking any different medications, and asked if Tylenol was one of them. She noted that this medication will typically skew the numbers and that I should rely on
my standard meter until I was off the Tylenol. She was right! After stopping the Tylenol, I saw my meters were both saying the same thing.
Based on my experience, I highly recommend paying attention to any changes in medication.
Good Luck and Keep going.........Peace Bob
Labels: accuracy, Continual Glucose Meters, diabetes, Glucose Meters, Medications
