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my Hbac1

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roxy44

Well-Known Member
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HI friends,
i am due my 3 monthly test, the nurse said i never need to fast before a blood test again,
so how can i get a true reading to compare to the last one i had?
plus i am due my cholestral and anemia check,

thanx xx
 
The only time I have to fast is when they test cholesterol as well as HbA1C...HbA1C is not dependent on when you last ate.

Hoep that helps,
 
thank you both for your replies, but i think i might have to ring and check about the cholesterol test, but the nurse did say because of diabetes i never have to fast again ...lol confusing xx
 
Hi,

This morning I went for my first HbA1C since diagnosis two months ago and you don't need to fast, but I had my cholesterol a couple of weeks ago (with thyroid check) and that was definitely fasting...
 
I had my 3 month check last week (5.9), no fasting needed for that, as someone said earlier it's an average. They also had a little pointer to see if I could feel it on my feet (wear clean socks!) also weighed me and measured my waist (lost 2inches!) and did blood pressure too. Then we had a chat about the bands the nurse had seen!
 
DEFINITELY don't have to fast for an HbA1c test. It reads the glucose that has attached to your red blood cells over the last 8 to 12 weeks, so fasting is irrelevant. If you are having a choleterol test at the same time, you WOULD have to fast as that requires it. You may have misunderstood the nurse - they often say you shouldn't fast or miss meals (risks of HYPOS according to what meds you're on) but that's different to HAVING to fast for certain things like cholesterol tests. If you have to fast for a cholesterol or other test, and you're on meds, they'll tell you how to adjust your meds to avoid as hypo risk.
Hope it helps
Good luck
Malc
 
thanx all, i think i would rather fast and get them all done in 1 go, will ring and make appointment.

do they tell you your A1c straight away? x
 
When I get my HbA1c tested, they tell me about 10 minutes later. The time it takes depends on whether they have the machine on the spot or have to send the blood away.
 
I've had both HbA1c and cholesterol tests done this year without fasting.
I think there is a box they tick on the cholesterol form to say whether it was fasting or not, so I've read somewhere I seem to remember.
Regards
Angie
 
I have to wait a week each time for my results as they get sent to be checked. But the diabetic nurse had more time than a doc so I took a note pad and paper and wrote all my results down, she even put my height in cm so I can work out bmi easier! It really was alot more relaxed than a normal doc appt.
 
In the pracice where I was a patient when first diagnosed you always had to fast for HBA1C's. In my present practice a few miles away , they say that diabetics have no need to fast for any tests relaed to diabetes. In each case they test for all the same things . and it akes about a week to get the results.
 
Unbeliever said:
In the pracice where I was a patient when first diagnosed you always had to fast for HBA1C's. In my present practice a few miles away , they say that diabetics have no need to fast for any tests relaed to diabetes. In each case they test for all the same things . and it akes about a week to get the results.[I was told to fast for an HbA1c until I challenged it, then they looked it up and admitted it wasn't necessary. Truth is, many of them out there don't understand and get it wrong! You MAY have to fast for a test if they particularly want to measure your fasting blood sugar, but that really needs to be done first thing when you get up.]
Click to expand...
 
daisy1 said:
When I get my HbA1c tested, they tell me about 10 minutes later. The time it takes depends on whether they have the machine on the spot or have to send the blood away.
Click to expand...

Wow! Is that something new? When I have had my HbA1C done (many, many times over the years) they always send the blood off to a lab, so it takes about a week to get the results. If there is now a machine that can do it "while you wait" that is fantastic!
 
sugar2 said:
daisy1 said:
When I get my HbA1c tested, they tell me about 10 minutes later. The time it takes depends on whether they have the machine on the spot or have to send the blood away.
Click to expand...

Wow! Is that something new? When I have had my HbA1C done (many, many times over the years) they always send the blood off to a lab, so it takes about a week to get the results. If there is now a machine that can do it "while you wait" that is fantastic!
Click to expand...


Yes since James was diagnosed at the age of 3 we have always had his HbA1C done while you wait. He is now 14 The only thing we have had to wait for is when he has a blood (thyroid) and urine test done. :wink:
 
Yes - my diabetic clinic does the HbA1c 'while you wait' inbetween giving a blood sample and seeing the doc. I was impressed the first time, too.
 
Double wow! I hadn't realised that we were so old fashioned round here...but I am not surprised!

So, do they need a small bottle of blood, or is it a finger prick test?

Sorry for hijacking your thread Roxy!
 
The reason for my interest is that I have to drive a fair way to get my blood taken for my HbA1C. It takes me over an hour and a half once I have qued in teh vampires waiting room and had teh blood taken etc. If I could get my clinic appointment and HbA1C blood taken and have teh results...it would save me having to take 2 sessions off work.
 
sugar2 said:
Double wow! I hadn't realised that we were so old fashioned round here...but I am not surprised!

So, do they need a small bottle of blood, or is it a finger prick test?

Sorry for hijacking your thread Roxy!
Click to expand...

For the test on the machine all they do is a finger prick test which is much better :)
 
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