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fasting blood tests

C

covknit

Well-Known Member
Messages
467
Type of diabetes
Prefer not to say
Treatment type
Other
How do you get on with fasting blood tests? Previously I have gone to Boots to get an appointment . If it is a fasting one they book me in early morning. I have nothing to eat after 7pm the previous wvening. First time I had nothing to drink either so the lady said she hoped my blood had not thickened as I may feel the needle more if it had. I do not have milk or sugar in my tea or coffee so she said in future I should ensure I have a drink beforehand.

Today I had the fasting cholesterol blood test for the free NHS test. I think it is the well woman has my younger sister has already had two. She lives in the neighbouring area health authority catchment. So I had nothing to eat after a 7. A cup of black tea before bed and a cup of black coffee this morning. I was given ticket 150. They were calling tickets in the 70's. Two hours later I was feeling very ill. Giddy, weepy, blurred vision and as if I was going to pass out. The lady next to me told me to see the counter staff. They told me to go straight through and speak to someone in ther. I had to wait a short time and the nurse did start to give me a bad time but not so bad. She told me I had to wait while she saw a couple of other patients. I possibly passed out for a couple of minutes - not sure.

Anyone saw me walking the corridor to the car would have said I was drunk. Fortunately I had packed some cheese and bacon with a lidl protein roll. Had a load of almonds too.

This is never right. How do you get on? There is no registration process. Just take a ticket and wait your turn. A couple of babies went straight in. I think I was the only other exception. If it was normal for diabetics to go straight through I am sure the nurse would never have challenged me so clearly I should have waited another hour. I am sure I would have definitely passed out if I had tried that. Was I being silly and letting my imagination run away with me and I should have waited.
 
My Drs will not take a fasting test for anyone with diabetes !
 
I don't understand what you mean about going to Boots for a fasting blood test? Are these fasting glucose tests? Why are you having to do this? Other than on initial diagnosis, GPs no longer do FBG tests in normal circumstances. You just get the HbA1c. My surgery discontinued them a couple of years ago due to their unreliability and the problems fitting everyone in with early morning appointments.

As for the Well Woman checks, do they do anything you don't get with your diabetes blood checks? Surely you are getting cholesterol tests, FBC, liver and kidney functions etc at your surgery as part of the diabetic checks? Or do you have different arrangements?
 
@Bluetit1802 - in Coventry, Boots seem to have an arrangement to provide a phlebotomy service to GPs.

@covknit - where I live, I have the choice of an appointment at he local cottage hospital, which can mean quite a delay for a fasting test. Alternatively, I can go to the much, much larger Test Centre at the area hospital. They are open 08:00-16:00 each week day, without the need to book. They mainly do phlebotomy for lots of the hospital departments, although Endo also have their own phlebotomy within the clinic.

For a fasting test, I get there at 08:00 and am usually clearing the parking barriers before my 30 minutes free parking has expired. It works well.

I do usually have a little post of something to eat in my handbag when I go, as that gives me added flexibility, should I feel hungry. Alternatively, I could go to the hospital restaurant and have a cooked breakfast if I had a busy day ahead.

I hope it goes better for you next time.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I don't understand what you mean about going to Boots for a fasting blood test? Are these fasting glucose tests? Why are you having to do this? Other than on initial diagnosis, GPs no longer do FBG tests in normal circumstances. You just get the HbA1c. My surgery discontinued them a couple of years ago due to their unreliability and the problems fitting everyone in with early morning appointments.

As for the Well Woman checks, do they do anything you don't get with your diabetes blood checks? Surely you are getting cholesterol tests, FBC, liver and kidney functions etc at your surgery as part of the diabetic checks? Or do you have different arrangements?
Click to expand...
I was only diagnosed in September. I have had fasting blood tests to get my hba1C and cholesterol in August and January. I have a free NHS exam 9 May and had to have the cholesterol blood test today at the walk in centre at Stoney Stanton road. I have glaucoma and my eye pressures were 48 42 in March 2016 and the hospital asked me lots of questions about my kidneys. So I have pushed the GP for kidney tests which they have reluctantly agreed to. The only feedback I can get is >60 so all clear. I have told eye department that and it is not their place to comment so I trust that is right. I have not had any other tests but after 10 years of problems with nerve paralysis on my right side the GP did agree to a CT scan when I saw her on 29 March. I am still waiting for a date. The patient advisory liasion service does confirm my record is noted as pending for that although a friend only waited 2 weeks for hers.
 
AndBreathe said:
@Bluetit1802 - in Coventry, Boots seem to have an arrangement to provide a phlebotomy service to GPs.

@covknit - where I live, I have the choice of an appointment at he local cottage hospital, which can mean quite a delay for a fasting test. Alternatively, I can go to the much, much larger Test Centre at the area hospital. They are open 08:00-16:00 each week day, without the need to book. They mainly do phlebotomy for lots of the hospital departments, although Endo also have their own phlebotomy within the clinic.

For a fasting test, I get there at 08:00 and am usually clearing the parking barriers before my 30 minutes free parking has expired. It works well.

I do usually have a little post of something to eat in my handbag when I go, as that gives me added flexibility, should I feel hungry. Alternatively, I could go to the hospital restaurant and have a cooked breakfast if I had a busy day ahead.

I hope it goes better for you next time.
Click to expand...
Thank you for that. Tuesday is my day volunteering at some gardens so I did have a breakfast and lunch in the car plus my almonds. I usually have almonds with me. I am intrigued about why @Enclave and @Bluetit1802 do not seem to have the same testing arrangement as I have experienced. Actually I do not know how the arrangement with Boots works. Boots are the pharmacy opposite the Health Centre so that may have something to do with it. There are some blood test appointments at the GP surgery on Tuesday and Thursday but they get booked vey quickly and my results were "forgotten" the only time I got one of those appointments. The opening hours at Stony Stanton walk in Centre are the same has your area hospital. I got there around 9:30. It never occured to me I would have to wait 3 hours but even that would not have been a problem If it had not been for the fasting part of the experience. I do the 12 hour fasting regime as routine anyway. I take my hat off to all the guys and gals that manage to do fasting days.

How often do you have to do fasting tests?
 
covknit said:
Thank you for that. Tuesday is my day volunteering at some gardens so I did have a breakfast and lunch in the car plus my almonds. I usually have almonds with me. I am intrigued about why @Enclave and @Bluetit1802 do not seem to have the same testing arrangement as I have experienced. Actually I do not know how the arrangement with Boots works. Boots are the pharmacy opposite the Health Centre so that may have something to do with it. There are some blood test appointments at the GP surgery on Tuesday and Thursday but they get booked vey quickly and my results were "forgotten" the only time I got one of those appointments. The opening hours at Stony Stanton walk in Centre are the same has your area hospital. I got there around 9:30. It never occured to me I would have to wait 3 hours but even that would not have been a problem If it had not been for the fasting part of the experience. I do the 12 hour fasting regime as routine anyway. I take my hat off to all the guys and gals that manage to do fasting days.

How often do you have to do fasting tests?
Click to expand...

It would depend what the blood test was for, whether it would be a fasted test or not. I always fast for my HbA1c because my GP always does a full panel, including lipids with it; therefore the need to fast for that. For non-diabetes related "stuff" I would decide based on the test whether or not to fast. I do still always go at 08:00 to have the blood drawn at the Test Centre, because I know at that time it's very quiet. I was there a couple of weeks ago, and there was nobody before me, and nobody in the waiting area as I left. I imagine it could be a very different story as the hospital clinics get under way and patients are trundling along from those.

Erm,........ one thing of note is that fasting too long can also impact the integrity of some results. I seem to recall something like no longer than 16 hours, but that is going from memory. I seem to recall @andcol mentioning something about this a while ago too.

It's all great fun............
 
HI. HBa1C tests are now non-fasting as a fasting blood test has little value except for lipids tests where a fasting one will give more useful results. So, apart from possibly needing a cholesterol breakdown, the HBa1C test is not a fasting one
 
My surgery has its own blood clinic. It is very efficient. You make an advance appointment, go along, and are in and out again in less than 10 minutes. It is a bit like a conveyor belt. The waiting times for appointments are no longer than a week or 10 days. We are no longer told to fast for any diabetic related tests (which also include cholesterol, lipids, kidney and liver, full blood counts etc) I choose to fast for these simply because it is wise to do this before the lipids test (for the triglycerides) but make sure I have a morning appointment as early as available. When we were told to fast it was for 8 to 10 hours only.
 
Fasting blood tests at the pathologists I go to have priority over other blood tests.

After you have taken your number card, one of the girls comes around and collects the card and blood test form from my GP. They check then if your fasting or not and you get called to go in before others if you are, it's a form of triage.
 
I am in South East London and my GP's surgery no longer send any diabetics for fasting blood tests. They say it is too risky and that random cholesterol etc is sufficient.
 
I should have said in my previous post, that the pathologist's are open from 7:00 am for the people who are getting a fasting blood test and have to go to work. They can grab a coffee and a sandwich from the bistro that is in the private hospital.

I normally get there around 7:30 when the rush has died a down.
 
AndBreathe said:
It would depend what the blood test was for, whether it would be a fasted test or not. I always fast for my HbA1c because my GP always does a full panel, including lipids with it; therefore the need to fast for that. For non-diabetes related "stuff" I would decide based on the test whether or not to fast. I do still always go at 08:00 to have the blood drawn at the Test Centre, because I know at that time it's very quiet. I was there a couple of weeks ago, and there was nobody before me, and nobody in the waiting area as I left. I imagine it could be a very different story as the hospital clinics get under way and patients are trundling along from those.

Erm,........ one thing of note is that fasting too long can also impact the integrity of some results. I seem to recall something like no longer than 16 hours, but that is going from memory. I seem to recall @andcol mentioning something about this a while ago too.

It's all great fun............
Click to expand...
Oh great. Thanks for that little snippet. I am intrigued as to what the appointment for 9th May is about. Since my Gp has the heart of a homicidal cost accountant it is sure to be something she is getting additional £££'s for. Before the GP prescribed the wrong drugs last August the best I could achieve was a phone appointment and she didn't always take the call. Amazing what can be achieved by raising the voice just enough for everyone in the waiting room to hear. This lot of paperwork said the blood sample was for cholesterol. The only drug not prescribed by the glaucoma clinic is statins which make me feel awful anyway so i am not retaking the test. Per qrisk I only have an 11% chance of whatever so I will accept the risk.
 
covknit said:
How do you get on with fasting blood tests? Previously I have gone to Boots to get an appointment . If it is a fasting one they book me in early morning. I have nothing to eat after 7pm the previous wvening. First time I had nothing to drink either so the lady said she hoped my blood had not thickened as I may feel the needle more if it had. I do not have milk or sugar in my tea or coffee so she said in future I should ensure I have a drink beforehand.

Today I had the fasting cholesterol blood test for the free NHS test. I think it is the well woman has my younger sister has already had two. She lives in the neighbouring area health authority catchment. So I had nothing to eat after a 7. A cup of black tea before bed and a cup of black coffee this morning. I was given ticket 150. They were calling tickets in the 70's. Two hours later I was feeling very ill. Giddy, weepy, blurred vision and as if I was going to pass out. The lady next to me told me to see the counter staff. They told me to go straight through and speak to someone in ther. I had to wait a short time and the nurse did start to give me a bad time but not so bad. She told me I had to wait while she saw a couple of other patients. I possibly passed out for a couple of minutes - not sure.

Anyone saw me walking the corridor to the car would have said I was drunk. Fortunately I had packed some cheese and bacon with a lidl protein roll. Had a load of almonds too.

This is never right. How do you get on? There is no registration process. Just take a ticket and wait your turn. A couple of babies went straight in. I think I was the only other exception. If it was normal for diabetics to go straight through I am sure the nurse would never have challenged me so clearly I should have waited another hour. I am sure I would have definitely passed out if I had tried that. Was I being silly and letting my imagination run away with me and I should have waited.
Click to expand...
7pm the night before is rather early. And fasting bloods I have been to I have been told to eat or drink nothing after 10pm. Try fasting from later on your next test and you might not feel ill. Glad you was sensible enough to pack some food! Xx
 
Daibell said:
HI. HBa1C tests are now non-fasting as a fasting blood test has little value except for lipids tests where a fasting one will give more useful results. So, apart from possibly needing a cholesterol breakdown, the HBa1C test is not a fasting one
Click to expand...
Since I got a statins prescription as soon as I was diagnosed diabetic and have had a cholesterol result every test I guess I am not going to get any mileage out of challenging the need to fast if this is the case. Annoying really because I have no intention of taking statins until I hear a convincing argument for them. On the other hand I want to know the chol results because I am eating a lot more fat than I used to and there is this niggling little worry voice in my head.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
My surgery has its own blood clinic. It is very efficient. You make an advance appointment, go along, and are in and out again in less than 10 minutes. It is a bit like a conveyor belt. The waiting times for appointments are no longer than a week or 10 days. We are no longer told to fast for any diabetic related tests (which also include cholesterol, lipids, kidney and liver, full blood counts etc) I choose to fast for these simply because it is wise to do this before the lipids test (for the triglycerides) but make sure I have a morning appointment as early as available. When we were told to fast it was for 8 to 10 hours only.
Click to expand...
That seems a civilised way of doing blood tests. The staff at the walk in centre were great. Very efficient but not enough staff to meet the demand. It is interesting your area does not expect diabetics to fast for more than 10 hours. In your region I could have had a midnight feast. Sadly my paperwork was very specific and it is almost certain the nurse would not have bothered taking my bloods. I need to go to the hospital proper soon so I will have speak to the PALS people about this. I did go in to their office to look for info on diabetes when I had my March Glaucoma tests. I was told the 2 cancer girls had left the previous July and they had received no literature since that time. Clearly diabetes and cancer are not high priority in Coventry.
 
Fergie1985 said:
7pm the night before is rather early. And fasting bloods I have been to I have been told to eat or drink nothing after 10pm. Try fasting from later on your next test and you might not feel ill. Glad you was sensible enough to pack some food! Xx
Click to expand...
Thank you. I certainly shall. I do not want to go through that again.
 
I didn't know Boots were doing this. Sounds awful for you @covknit

I always fast for 12 hours before blood tests but drink lots of water to keep my veins juicy. I have the veins of a ghost so plenty of fluids and a warm shower beforehand help.
 
covknit said:
Since I got a statins prescription as soon as I was diagnosed diabetic and have had a cholesterol result every test I guess I am not going to get any mileage out of challenging the need to fast if this is the case. Annoying really because I have no intention of taking statins until I hear a convincing argument for them. On the other hand I want to know the chol results because I am eating a lot more fat than I used to and there is this niggling little worry voice in my head.
Click to expand...

Covknit - Some time ago I started a thread describing my "adventure" surrounding my discussing with my GP around my inconveniently high TC score, versus the components and rations. I can't recall what I called the thread, but you could have a trawl if you feel like it.

I certainly did ask my GP for the scientific papers illustrating the positive impacts of statins for "women of a certain age", as the vast majority to participants in statin research are males (probably due to their higher incidence of CVD in the total population). She couldn't come up with any.

I left her with some links and we now seem to be more aligned. To be fair, the NICE guidelines have also changed from "all diabetics should be offered lipid lowering medication" to referencing rations. To look at your ratios, the following websit calculator is a great starter.

http://www.hughcalc.org/chol-si.php
 
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