Fasting cholestrol test

[Ritchie]

Hi Folks, I'm new to this site but have loads of questions ....at the moment I'm wondering how as an type 1 diabetic I can fast for 12 hours for a cholestoral test? Last time I tried it my blood measured 2.00 at 10am when I had the test. When I advised the nurse how low my blood was & informed her I was feeling lightheaded her reaction was ...typical man ...faints at the sight of blood! As I needed to eat I refused to continue the test & ate instead much to her disgust.
I'm now advised I need to do another test.

 

[Natalie123]

Hi Ritchie, most people would say that, as a type 1 your background insulin should keep your sugar levels stable, not make you low. But I know some people who have terrible hypos in the morning if they don't eat, so perhaps you are one of them. I have not needed to have a fasting cholesterol test before, mine are done as non-fasting tests because I too would find fasting difficult. It would be worth speaking to your doctor about it to see if fasting is really neccessary. Maybe you need to adjust your night time insulin dose so that you don't go low. Most importantly, if you go low, ignore the grumpy nurse and eat something! don't take risks!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Folks, I'm new to this site but have loads of questions ....at the moment I'm wondering how as an type 1 diabetic I can fast for 12 hours for a cholestoral test? Last time I tried it my blood measured 2.00 at 10am when I had the test. When I advised the nurse how low my blood was & informed her I was feeling lightheaded her reaction was ...typical man ...faints at the sight of blood! As I needed to eat I refused to continue the test & ate instead much to her disgust.
I'm now advised I need to do another test.

Simple solution, is have the test 1st thing in the morning 🙂
But saying that, if your blood sugar is that low which is very hypo then you need to look at your basal. If regulary that low with no food then your basal insulin is to much for your needs.
I would also ask that the nurse be re educated on the treatment of low blood sugars 🙄

 

[Northerner]

Hi Ritchie, welcome to the forum 🙂 Have you been diagnosed long? What insulin regime are you on? If you are on basal/bolus (using a slow-acting insulin like lantus or levemir and a fast-acting like novorapid) then it sounds like perhaps your slow-acting dose is on the high side if you are having hypos when you don't eat breakfast.

Regarding the cholesterol test - is there any particular reason why they want you to do a fasting test? I only ask because I've never had to fast for cholesterol tests. Also, could you ask for an earlier test and explain about the dangers of dropping low?

 

[Steff]

Richie hi just wanted to welcome you warmly to the forum.

 

[Robster65]

Hi Ritchie. Welcome 🙂

AS said, your GP should offer you a first thing appointment as a T1. I normally get mine at 8.30 and am often called through a bit before. HUngry but safe.🙄

And your basal could certainly do with some tweaking.🙂

Rob

 

[trophywench]

Think you are sposed to fast for a Full Lipid Panel, aren't you? TChol doesn't need fasting but also doesn't tell you or them much.

Like everyone else has said, 10.oo am is far too late for any fasting Blood Test. I can make appts at my GP surgery from 07.00 or can go on spec to the hospital from the same time. There is a notice up telling you to take a ticket (a la Tesco's deli counter LOL) and if it's fasting, to also report to the 'window' where they take your name and number and you get priority.

I would also like to add that many phlebotomists aren't actually nurses. A friend has recently trained to do the job. She is a T1 but she's always been employed clerically - as a receptionist and later as a Coding Clerk at the surgery she works for.

Wendy would have treated your hypo of course and not given you any baloney - but only because she's a fellow diabetic .......