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Type 2 Fasting before blood tests

woollygal

woollygal

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,485
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Coffee diabetes
I know I’ve asked this before but how long do you have to fast for?
It’s my big yearly tests so everything including hba1c and cholesterol and liver and kidneys!!
 
Antje77 said:
I go with 10 hours, as the form always says no food after 10 PM and the lab opens at 8 AM.
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I think the reason @bulkbiker says 12-14hrs is because cholesterol usually shows a marked drop after 12 hrs (there was a paper but I have no idea right now which one) but at they typical 10 hrs it hasn’t happened yet.
 
Antje77 said:
I go with 10 hours, as the form always says no food after 10 PM and the lab opens at 8 AM.
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The pathology shop I go to, now opens at 6:00 am to cater for the fasting workers so that they can get breakfast before work.

It's still triaged though so I normally get down there thirty minutes after they open, the main rush has started to thing out.
 
Antje77 said:
I usually go late morning. I don't do breakfast usually but I love snacking after midnight so that suits me best and there's never a crowd :)
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I do not snack at all, I have to my take medication with food so breakfast is the best time to take 15 assorted heart and copd tablets. I take a little baggy with them in and show the triage person collecting the request forms and number you get when you walk in.
 
HSSS said:
I think the reason @bulkbiker says 12-14hrs is because cholesterol usually shows a marked drop after 12 hrs (there was a paper but I have no idea right now which one) but at they typical 10 hrs it hasn’t happened yet.
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It was one of Dave Feldmans self experiments.
 
bulkbiker said:
Nothing to do with HbA1c all to do with "accuracy" in cholesterol testing if you are having a full lipid panel.
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thank you for the correction @bulkbiker , it was what i had meant , in a cack handed manner.

the only blood tests i seem to get ...is the hba1c. hence the reference,
but you are right...and that as you rightly say, for me gives the full-ish panel of bloods.
hence the fast as i recall you posted in my early days

had the B12 on request agreed on this year and that showed in range...so most happy

Love all the advise you guys give.
it all helps so much.

So O/p..fasted for my blood tests over 12 hours.,
 
Antje77 said:
Is cholesterol the only test for which fasting makes a difference?
(for regular diabetes blood tests I mean)
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As a T1, I assume you have thyroid function checked regularly (if not, I believe you should). Forthyroid function, cortisol and a whole bunch of hormone stuff time is critical, due to quite a few of them having circadian variations.
 
I shoot for 12 hrs. With waiting periods varying, it can sometimes be longer, but not by much most of the time.
 
DCUKMod said:
As a T1, I assume you have thyroid function checked regularly (if not, I believe you should). Forthyroid function, cortisol and a whole bunch of hormone stuff time is critical, due to quite a few of them having circadian variations.
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Do you mean testing at a particular time of day or fasting for a particular length of time for that test?
 
Antje77 said:
Do you mean testing at a particular time of day or fasting for a particular length of time for that test?
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Thyroid, and many hormones should be tested fasted and as early as possible in the day. (There are also conditions for taking any hormone impacting meds, pre-tests too, but that varies, depending on the hormone involved.)

For me, this means, I fast, am tested at 8am, when the phlebotomy clinc opens. I then take my thyroid meds immediately (to allow time before eating or drinking, which impacts their efficacy), the I head off and find a coffee somewhere, or head home, if I have no errands to do.

For me, this regime creates as steady a state for the tests as I can achieve without too many shenanigans or disruptions to my day.
 
Fasting is no longer required for HbA1c alone you only need to fast for the full lipid panel, thyroid and other hormonal tests are a different matter.
 
JohnEGreen said:
Fasting is no longer required for HbA1c alone you only need to fast for the full lipid panel, thyroid and other hormonal tests are a different matter.
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Mine was the full panel
 
When it is recommended by your doctor to fast for a cholesterol test then it normally 9 to 12 hours I usually fast about 10 hours.

Though New guidelines, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology it seems says unless you are taking statins or such like it is not necessary to fast.
 
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