• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Help. To fast or not... that is the question with two different answers.

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
S

Sharron1

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I wonder if anyone can help me before I go completely nuts. I have to set up an appointment for my first 6 month med review. Ok, how difficult can that be... When I attended the foot clinic in August the DN told me she could do the blood test and I did ask whether I would need to fast and she said no. Today I rang the surgery to make the appointment, after a lot of faffing with the receptionist and a form which I may or not need - not as it happens. I wanted to confirm whether I would need to fast - she said yes. I then told her that I was told not, oh she replied let me look at the website because for some blood tests you need to fast (I am aware of that - but hey ho). She then told me that if I was told not to fast then don't. I really don't want to go there and find I had to fast or didn't need to. So on Monday I will back on the phone to the surgery for no doubt another piece of advice that is contrary to all the others. What gets me is how do these Receptionists and the Prescription Manager think they are qualified to give this info. I know can sort this out but my goodness... just tested my sugar it was a healthy 5.6... Managing Diabetes in my neck of the wood really is self management. So, after that rant and ramble does anyone know if I need to fast? I think I need to find out what the blood test are for - I think you need to fast for the cholesterol one?🙄 I think it is worth all the effort to keep blood sugar under control so I only have to visit the surgery once a year even that would require a long holiday afterwards.
 
Why not book an early appointment and have brekkie when you come back!
Getting anything done at our surgery is a nightmare as well because there is no money so not even a dedicated diabetes nurse, the practice nurse does everything.
However as far as I know the colesterol test is fasting, the finger prick can be either as long as you tell "Nursey" if you have eaten or not and the HbA1c doesn't matter because it's a two to three monthly average
 
Many thanks for the speedy response. I think that is what I will do I couldn't stand it if I hadn't fasted and needed to and then have to make another appointment... But I am confused because I thought the HbA1c is an average and therefore fasting would make no difference. I wonder if 'nursery' has included a cholesterol one as well - the full works... Wonder if the Receptionist and Prescription Manager do operations as well?
 
Hi Sharron, yes the HbA1c is an average so if you have fasted or not at the time the blood is taken will not make a jot of difference to the reading.
 
Only if the cholesterol test is described as a Full Lipids test, does one need to fast for it - but it probably won't be all that far out if one doesn't. The HbA1c test, one does NOT need to fast.
 
I always fast, then there is no issue no matter what test they decide to do.
(Although I usually get a broad spectrum done most times)
 
trophywench said:
Only if the cholesterol test is described as a Full Lipids test, does one need to fast for it - but it probably won't be all that far out if one doesn't. The HbA1c test, one does NOT need to fast.
Click to expand...
Thank you Jenny. After I had calmed down from such a stupid conversation. I decided that I would stick with the Diabetes nurse and not fast. I can have the HbA1c and can go back for anything else. I don't think I could handle another conversation with the surgery!It would possibly send my sugar levels into the stratosphere 😱
 
travellor said:
I always fast, then there is no issue no matter what test they decide to do.
(Although I usually get a broad spectrum done most times)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response. I will not bother to fast and have the HbAc1 test and they can make another appointment for anything else. Thank you and happy sugar levels🙄
 
Won't do your blood pressure all that much good either, Sharron ! 🙂
 
trophywench said:
Won't do your blood pressure all that much good either, Sharron ! 🙂
Click to expand...

I just chill until the nurse takes a blood sample.
No issue with blood pressure.

But no way does that ever affect my hba1c?
 
Well, temporary annoyance doesn't usually affect BG that much, whereas being riled does temporarily raise the BP. Continued stress can quite easily raise BG, all to do with the same 'fight or flight' hormone reaction our bodies automatically do when we have a tremendous shock.

I never mentioned BG anyway in my reply to S - it was in the nature of one of those joke things you hear about! :D
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top