Appropriate time for fasting test

A fasting test should be done at the time you are normally up for the day. I worked graveyard shift for years and I am still rarely in bed before 4 am. My DP and normal fasting is around noon. If you get a fasting glucose done hours before you are normally up it will most likely not be accurate. I do not normally take my metformin before a fasting test.

rjnkanwal said:

Hi
I am type 2 diabetic and I am taking 1000mg metformin in the morning and 1000mg in the evening.
Can someone advise that what is the best time for fasting test and should I take metformin before the test or not.

I am going to take my dinner by 21.00 and I would take a cup of tea at 23.00. Finish work half past midnight and go to bed by 01.30 and go for blood test about 11.00 tomorrow.
Do you think that's OK or should I do it on another day between 7 and 8.
Thanks

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What is the fasting test for?

You don't need to fast for a reg HbA1c as it measures the last 2-3 months blood sugar levels. For a cholesterol test its best to not eat for 12 hours beforhand so you could just time it like that whenever you get the blood test appointment.
Probably a good idea to try and get your own meter so any other one off tests you can do yourself at home.
Most of us get the SD Codefree meter that you can buy from
https://homehealth-uk.com/product-c...ing_wp_cron=1485768841.2648990154266357421875
because the strips are among the least expensive (and you will get through quite a few).

What are you hoping the fasting glucose test will tell you that is useful? The HbA1c test, which doesn't require fasting, should tell you far more. The fasting glucose test is very unpredictable and can be affected by several things over which we have no control, such as a restless night, stress, exercise and so on. Even getting up, having a shower, travelling to the doctor's surgery, and nerves because of the impending test will all play a part. These issues won't affect the HbA1c at all. You would be better buying your own meter.

If the HbA1c also includes a cholesterol test with full lipid panel, then you do need to fast.

rjnkanwal said:

I do have my own meter. I done the fasting test at home and it has come high between 8 and 9. During day the blood glucose levels are within range ie before and after meals. I know that hba1c tells a lot. Just want to see if fasting is in range or not.

I think it is possible that my irregular shift work is not helping my fasting sugar levels.

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In which case, a fasting reading taken by the doctor won't be any different from the ones you see at home, unless they are actually worse of course (due to liver dumps between getting up and having the blood taken). I am failing to understand why you asked for one. You know from your own testing your fasting is not in range, at least at the times you tested.

Most of us have high fasting levels compared with the rest of the day, and most of this is due to the liver dumps we get. Some can be due to too much protein eaten the day before, but this won't be consistent, just occasionally. If you want to keep an eye on your general levels, it is best to test before your evening meal (when on day shifts or not working and having normal sleeping and eating patterns). For most people this is a mini-fast as there are usually several hours between lunch and evening meal. This is the time we can expect to have our lowest numbers of the day.