High glucose levels, everywhere!

[BA_anthropology]

I'm in nursing school and I notice that many, many of my clinical patient's have glucose that is elevated at least slightly, even fasting glucose levels. I have asked my clinical instructors about this, as I don't see the reason for it in non-diabetic patients. I have yet to get a straight answer, but they've never thought it was significant that their glucose was high.

Any thoughts?

[CBsMommy]

Also, make sure the alcohol pads that you wipe their fingers with are drying because if you get any extra alcohol from the wipes, it can also elevate glucose slightly!

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Also, make sure the alcohol pads that you wipe their fingers with are drying because if you get any extra alcohol from the wipes, it can also elevate glucose slightly!

Where I work, we are taught to wipe away the first drop of blood and take the second drop, because even if the alcohol is dry it will still cause a slight false elevation in blood glucose!