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Cholesterol

Scandichic

Scandichic

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,708
Location
Hampshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Michael Gove and his insane educational? policies!
Does anyone know if a cholesterol test has to be fasting? I went for a vitamin D test and the nurse told me afterwards that shed done an hba1c too! I'd just had brekkie! I didn't go for an hba1c or a cholesterol test so I didn't fast. The doc has now left several messages for me and wants to change my meds!
 
I complained to my nurse once that I was getting mixed messages. When I went for a blood test I had to fast. On the next blood test there were no instructions. I asked if I could be given positive instructions in either case. She said that I had not needed to fast because they were not doing my triglycerides. Of course, silly me, I knew that.

What I learned is that I don't need to fast for my Hba1c but I do need to fast for my triglycerides. I have no idea where cholesterol comes in all this except that I read somewhere that they do your cholesterol along with the triglycerides (that's if they are not the same thing).

Perhaps someone can clear this up.

Edit: Found this

http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-ma...ing-may-not-be-needed-before-cholesterol-test
 
I had a blood test recently to check my cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides and I had to fast for at least 12 hours. Even when I was called in to the nurse she asked me if I had fasted!
 
I checked only last year and was told it had to be a fasting check, what difference it makes to the results I'm unsure about.
 
Triglycerides are more accurate after fasting as our food affects the levels. I am always told to fast for cholesterol tests as these have always included triglycerides.

The Hba1c test does not need to be fasting as it is an average of a past period. Only the fasting glucose test is fasting as that is a test of glucose at that moment in time.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Squire Fulwood said:
I complained to my nurse once that I was getting mixed messages. When I went for a blood test I had to fast. On the next blood test there were no instructions. I asked if I could be given positive instructions in either case. She said that I had not needed to fast because they were not doing my triglycerides. Of course, silly me, I knew that.
Click to expand...

Why wouldn't they do your trigs? These are the most important indicators for CV disease.
 
Scandichic said:
Does anyone know if a cholesterol test has to be fasting? I went for a vitamin D test and the nurse told me afterwards that shed done an hba1c too! I'd just had brekkie! I didn't go for an hba1c or a cholesterol test so I didn't fast. The doc has now left several messages for me and wants to change my meds!
Click to expand...
Doc might want to cut your met?
 
The HBa1C never needs to be fasting. My surgery has changed the annual blood test to non-fasting now. My DN said the cholesterol readings were less reliable but that's what they now do. I guess it helps avoid a peak for the phlebotomist in the early morning? With the increasing resistance to taking statins I guess cholesterol results are becoming les important; something I agree with.
 
Clear as mud .... Larfffink.gif
 
I only learned on the forum that cholesterols need to be taken fasting. The HbA1c does not (an average of previous three months with a heavy slant on the last one and a half months).

So at my latest blood tests, I had rather higher cholesterols. But mind you, I had some 'forbidden' foods just prior to the tests which may have affected the cholesterols. Will not repeat that mistake!

annelise
 
My doctor's practice always insisted that a cholesterol test had to be fasting. After I was diagnosed T2 my DN told me that didn't apply any more - they could do what she called a 'random' test.

They've never given me any directions regarding the HbA1c.


J.
 
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