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Regular blood tests and cholesterol

LittleGreyCat

LittleGreyCat

Well-Known Member
Retired Moderator
Messages
4,432
Location
Suffolk, UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Diet drinks - the artificial sweeteners taste vile.
Having to forswear foods I have loved all my life.
Trying to find low carb meals when eating out.
As part of my ongoing care I have 6 monthly blood tests and reviews with the Diabetes Nurse. Three month interim test without review if I am trying something new/different.

One thing, though. There is the assumption that because I am T2 the main reason for the test is HbA1c and so they say that it doesn't need to be a fasting test. Obviously because HbA1c measures the long term average.

However they also measure cholesterol and draw conclusions.

Thanks to various posters for reminding me that if you want an accurate cholesterol reading then you should have a fasting test. So I am passing that reminder on.

On a related point, for the first time ever I had to arm wrestle the phlebotomist (very politely) to get a cholesterol test because they were "only once per year". Has something changed recently? I have always had the cholesterol test included in my blood tests before.

I am assuming this was some kind of internal lack of communication because the 3 monthly test was because I had poor results just before Christmas for cholesterol and HbA1c, and they were pushing me to consider statins.
 
LittleGreyCat said:
pushing me to consider statins.
Click to expand...

Maybe if you said "No thank you" they decided "what's the point?"

I should issue an optimism warning, I tend to be optimistic about decisions made by my GP's practice. I expect very little and get more than I expect.
 
Be aware that, even if you fast, not all surgeries do a cholesterol breakdown, just a total figure now.
 
LittleGreyCat said:
As part of my ongoing care I have 6 monthly blood tests and reviews with the Diabetes Nurse. Three month interim test without review if I am trying something new/different.

One thing, though. There is the assumption that because I am T2 the main reason for the test is HbA1c and so they say that it doesn't need to be a fasting test. Obviously because HbA1c measures the long term average.

However they also measure cholesterol and draw conclusions.

Thanks to various posters for reminding me that if you want an accurate cholesterol reading then you should have a fasting test. So I am passing that reminder on.

On a related point, for the first time ever I had to arm wrestle the phlebotomist (very politely) to get a cholesterol test because they were "only once per year". Has something changed recently? I have always had the cholesterol test included in my blood tests before.

I am assuming this was some kind of internal lack of communication because the 3 monthly test was because I had poor results just before Christmas for cholesterol and HbA1c, and they were pushing me to consider statins.
Click to expand...

I always ensure I pick up my blood papers, so that I can check I've been written up for what I'm expecting.

If I was written up for lipids, I might be inclined to ask her to comply with the Doc's request.
 
I have the full wack of blood tests every 6 months and a nurse review annually. I get HbA1c, liver and kidney function, cholesterol and full breakdown, estimated GFR, full blood count. Urine annually, serum bones annually, and anything extra I may ask for is usually allowed. Sadly, these 6 monthly ones will reduce to annual from next December if the nurse gets her way and I accept being taken off the diabetes register. I have declined up to now because of losing the 6 monthly ones.

I have always fasted for mine even though told this wasn't necessary. I just make sure my blood letting appointment is early in the day.
 
DavidGrahamJones said:
Maybe if you said "No thank you" they decided "what's the point?"

I should issue an optimism warning, I tend to be optimistic about decisions made by my GP's practice. I expect very little and get more than I expect.
Click to expand...

Letter from the Doctor in January says "review after next test in 3 months" so she was obviously expecting me to have a cholesterol test.

I wonder if nobody checked to see that cholesterol test was written up, or if they have tightened up on the testing regime since Christmas.
They are all very nice at this practice and very supportive.
However three practices are amalgamating (lack of partners - one retired, one sadly injured and unable to work, no new doctors wanting to be partners).
The practices are now (or will be soon) sharing the phlebotomists so there may have been a bit of arm wrestling in the background over how much can be spent.
Hopefully this was just a glitch.
Outstanding practice thus far.
 
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