Do you fast before your lipid test?

[desidiabulum]

Practice seems to vary widely about whether people are told to fast before their lipid test, but I have certainly found that it has a major effect on my results. Some surgeries forbid diabetics having fasting lipid tests; some insist on it; others seem indifferent; some have both fasting and non-fasting tests (and suggest that non-fasting is best for overall cholesterol; fasting better for measuring the other elements). This diversity of approaches seems crazy to me. What have your experiences been?

 

[julifriend]

I was told by my surgery that I didn't need to fast before my last lipid test, but as the appointment was at 09:00 I chose not to have breakfast so it was fasting anyway. The annoying thing is the testing lab didn't provide a full breakdown of the lipid profile so I'm not much wiser than I was.

 

[cold ethyl]

Mine was just part of a routine blood test so I'd eaten eggs and a pile of toast about 1 1/2 hrs earlier. Got told it was higher than liked and that I was diabetic. While I am sure both are true, I'm not convinced by the manner of testing as my Dad who has regular cholesterol checks post bypass always has to fast. I'm hoping next test is more thorough and I get a breakdown, but I'm not holding my breath as my GP seems to have bought into the statins for everyone story. Interestingly, I found two of his partners' Twitter accounts via surgery twitter page and they seem more disinclined to prescribe them. Sadly they are also retiring very early next month due to the demands from on high for tick box dubious preventative medicine. Pity that message doesn't get shared with patients.

 

[paul-1976]

Always been told to fast for a full lipid breakdown and also I avoid alcohol the day before test so not to get a false high Trig level (Although they don't tell you that one!)

 

[desidiabulum]

Thanks. It's probably not the done thing to bump your own thread, but given that it is these tests that often prompt doctors to prescribe statins I thought it might be useful to hear from a few more people.

 

[noblehead]

I always fast for a full lipid breakdown of cholesterol, nurse last year ( a different one to the one that I normally see at gp surgery) said it wasn't necessary so checked with my consultant and they said it was.

 

[SueKen]

I have fasted for my last few, but my DSN told me not to bother for the next one in Sept. That pleased me, as I am very difficult to get blood out of, there is only one phlebotomist that I can see and I have to have an extended appointment, and being restricted to early in the morning as well makes it even more difficult to get an appointment. I think I read somewhere that fasting affects the Trig level but not overall or HDL levels.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I have been told to fast before mine (for more accurate results that don't reflect something you have just eaten). It's standard practice at our surgery.

@paul-1976 Interesting comment about not drinking alcohol the previous day

 

[smidge]

I've always fasted for mine, but as it's always done with other tests including fasting BG, I assumed that's why I needed to fast. However, the consultant at my DAFNE course earlier in the year said it's not necessary to fast for cholesterol tests. Having said that, I had a surprise blood test a few months ago so I'd had breakfast that morning and a couple of glasses of wine the night before - my overall cholesterol was up significantly from the previous one, but the trigs weren't affected. I'm due a blood test soon, so I'll go back to fasting for that one and see if it makes a difference.

Smidge

 

[kesun]

Mine's always been fasting: my surgery calls it "diabetic fasting blood test", and it includes BG as well as lipids. The DN remarks on how low my BG is and how high my TC. I remind her I can't tolerate statins and that the consultant said not to worry as my cholesterol ratio is good.

Then we wait a year and do it all again.

I do also have "non-fasting diabetic blood tests", but they don't measure lipids.

Kate

 

[oldgreymare]

Always been told to fast overnight plus avoid alcohol for at least 72 hours as can distort lipid levels. But typically get fasting BG, liver, etc panels done at the same time.

 

[Bluetit1802]

My Practice doesn't do fasting BG tests other than for initial diagnosis. Just fasting lipids, and the normal HbA1c test, plus liver and kidney functions. They say fasting BG is not necessary and I assume this is because of the morning liver dump that affects people in different ways.

 

[oldgreymare]

My Practice doesn't do fasting BG tests other than for initial diagnosis. Just fasting lipids, and the normal HbA1c test, plus liver and kidney functions. They say fasting BG is not necessary and I assume this is because of the morning liver dump that affects people in different ways.

Agreed my endo is probably more interested in HbAc1, but I ask for fasting BG to be included as well given I've had to fast anyway for the lipid panel. My dawn phenomenom is extremely variable...

 

[annelise]

I never fasted before getting a panel of blood tests - had not been told to do so.

But having now read around about lipid/cholesterol numbers being sensitive with regard to fasting, I will fast before the next time..

- Also a piece of very interesting information (thanks! ) for mentioning that alcohols may affect the results . I will now dispense with my nightcaps some days before tests !

annelise

 

[smartlady]

I'm having my test in a couple of weeks, so I've just done a quick Google search. Boots & British Heart Foundation say no to fasting. NHS, Mayo & Heart UK say yes & 2 other sites say your doctor will tell you if fasting is necessary!! That's cleared that up nicely then lol

Smartie xx

 

[annelise]

I'm having my test in a couple of weeks, so I've just done a quick Google search. Boots & British Heart Foundation say no to fasting. NHS, Mayo & Heart UK say yes & 2 other sites say your doctor will tell you if fasting is necessary!! That's cleared that up nicely then lol

Smartie xx

Ha! So the jury is still out on this ... - As I wish to err on the safe side, it will be fasting for me the next time, though. Especially as they never bother about a fasting number (which will in any case only be a spotcheck of your current day-form).

annelise

 

[kesun]

My daughter and I also get tested at the inherited metabolic diseases clinic, and the consultant always wants fasting bloods for lipids. One time when they mistakenly tested my daughter's non-fasting blood for the blood lipid panel there was a minor panic as her triglycerides were way too high. But once we'd sorted out that the blood was non-fasting, the consultant said her results were normal. What I take from this is that there's a normal level for fasting and a normal level for non-fasting, and the important thing is that the doctor interpreting the results knows which to expect.

Kate

 

[debbiiee]

I fast before my lipid profile is done. Its ideal to do a 12 hrs fast.

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