• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Can anyone explain why

Bildad

Bildad

Well-Known Member
Messages
371
Location
North West England
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I was due an HbA1c blood test and phoned the surgery to check if I was having a fasting lipid test too. I was informed that it was to be a non fasting lipid test as it is dangerous for anyone with diabetes to fast! Have I missed something? I have been fasting regularly for the last 15 months and haven't come to any harm as far as I know.
I fasted anyway so have actually had a fasting lipid test done - only want to know the results for my own curiosity I have absolutely no intention of taking stations.
What hope is there when the GP surgery is giving out such obviously wrong information?
 
Bildad said:
I was due an HbA1c blood test and phoned the surgery to check if I was having a fasting lipid test too. I was informed that it was to be a non fasting lipid test as it is dangerous for anyone with diabetes to fast! Have I missed something? I have been fasting regularly for the last 15 months and haven't come to any harm as far as I know.
I fasted anyway so have actually had a fasting lipid test done - only want to know the results for my own curiosity I have absolutely no intention of taking stations.
What hope is there when the GP surgery is giving out such obviously wrong information?
Click to expand...
Although if following most surgery's standard of care you'd likely end up injecting insulin and therefore fasting could put you at risk of a hypo. So in their corrupted little "chronic, progressive disease" world they may actually believe they are right.
 
I don't feel that I can argue with them too much as I had a disagreement with the practice nurse who "specialises" in diabetes back in January. She suggested by Hba1c was far too low and I was endangering my life it was 34! I asked what was her evidence for that statement and suggested if she was still of the opinion that type 2 diabetes was a "chronic progressive disease" she was behind the times and needed to update her practice.
I received a letter from my practice to warn me that they take a dim view of my comments and that I need to calm my tone.
I have had the tests and will get the results on line, I am supposed to ring for an appointment with said nurse but I doubt I will bother unless something looks amiss and then I will ask to speak to the doctor.
 
The real reason for surgeries no longer requiring fasting lipid tests was explained in the NICE guidelines at one time when it changed. Basically, it was for logistic reasons. Fasting tests are done in the mornings, as early as possible, in order to stop us starving to death. This would mean longer waiting times if we all had to have early morning appointments as opposed to being spread throughout the day. That was the reason given. In other words ..... cost cutting and cutting waiting time targets.
 
Hi @Bildad ,

I'm sorry you're having difficulty with your surgery.

Reading what you are telling us. It sounds a little from my perspective like you are getting dated T1 recomendations?
 
HI. You are suffering an ignorant surgery/nurse. They are talking rubbish. Even for T1s it's fine as long as you think about the amount of insulin during the previous 24 hours (the Basal). I usually do a fasting test for the same reason you did. In theory for a T1 if your Basal is balanced your BS will remain stable and obviously you wouldn't have any Bolus insulin as no food taken. As another poster has said the reason for tests now being non-fasting is to reduce blood clinics morning overload and to stop using fasting blood test results which were often used in ignorance of the overnight liver dump.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
The real reason for surgeries no longer requiring fasting lipid tests was explained in the NICE guidelines at one time when it changed. Basically, it was for logistic reasons. Fasting tests are done in the mornings, as early as possible, in order to stop us starving to death. This would mean longer waiting times if we all had to have early morning appointments as opposed to being spread throughout the day. That was the reason given. In other words ..... cost cutting and cutting waiting time targets.
Click to expand...
I went for my blood test last week at a walk-in local hospital clinic, it is usually at the surgery. Arriving 15 mins before they open there were 20 people in front of me, I didn't want to spend a hour in a crowded waiting room so I went away. I came back a couple of hours later and there were only 2 people in front of me. So the non- fasting test does indeed cut down the queue but my Trigs were much higher than usual, presumably due to my bacon and egg breakfast.
 
Guess it’s not dangerous for people living in Singapore. Reading the order for my next round of tests, a1c and lipid, says must be fasted for at least 12 hours. Maybe it’s the humidity.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
The real reason for surgeries no longer requiring fasting lipid tests was explained in the NICE guidelines at one time when it changed. Basically, it was for logistic reasons. Fasting tests are done in the mornings, as early as possible, in order to stop us starving to death. This would mean longer waiting times if we all had to have early morning appointments as opposed to being spread throughout the day. That was the reason given. In other words ..... cost cutting and cutting waiting time targets.
Click to expand...
This is what I was told by my practice DSN. For most tests incl Hba1c it matters not a jot or a tittle, but it is essential for lipid tests, eg cholesterols. It is also by default a necessity for Fasting Blood Glucose tests which are sometimes taken with a blood panel and measured by the Lab, but which can also be done at the review by spot check, Most surgeries now take less interest in the FBG and use the HbaA1c instead as it is more reliable. Fasting is also required for OGTT tests, but these are special tests. Not sure about GAD or C-Peptide tests though. I have assumed you mean the annual blood panel checks.

The problem I have had with the new regime is that the blood samples hang around in the collection box for most of the day and night , and during this time the blood goes off and it gives inaccurate potassium or sodium levels due to leakage. I have now had several retests required because of this, but they still insist on reducing to the single collection at the start of the next day. It is very early in the morning so that is another reason why fasting test logistics are messed up.
 
Oldvatr said:
The problem I have had with the new regime is that the blood samples hang around in the collection box for most of the day and night , and during this time the blood goes off and it gives inaccurate potassium or sodium levels due to leakage. I have now had several retests required because of this, but they still insist on reducing to the single collection at the start of the next day. It is very early in the morning so that is another reason why fasting test logistics are messed up.
Click to expand...

My surgery has two blood collections each day, mid morning and afternoon. They must go quickly because my resuklts can be on line within 24 hours.
 
Back
Top