About 5 or 6 weeks post-transplant I noticed that my blood draw would indicate my blood sugar was 92, but when I got home it was 138. Those were about 20 min apart (only drinking water in between). I decided to consult Dr Google about this inconsistency.
I found an article that said with the blood sugar meters you and I use, as well as the continuous glucose meters will give readings of blood sugars higher than they actually are when we take Tylenol. The article said that the small sample sizes used, as well as the less expensive test materials are more easily affected by medications, whereas the lab draws use a larger sample size and more expensive equipment make the results from the lab more reliable. Tylenol also affects all of the continuous glucose meters currently available in the US (Freestyle Libre, Dexcom, and Medtronic).
At this point I was using 500 to 1000mg/day only when I walked, which was right before I had my blood drawn. I was off Tylenol at 7 weeks, except when I overdo it by doing something I forget that I should not be doing.
I have found that since I stopped the Tylenol, I am within 15 points of the lab value, usually higher. Which is within the tolerance allowed by the FDA. Before it was 30-50 mg/dL higher. (I took my glucose meter with me to the lab to verify).
I have not researched this a lot, but if you find some funny glucose readings, I thought I'd send you down this road to do your own research.... or do your own test, like I did.
Working after transplant
Transplant delays
