How long does one really have to fast before taking a Fasting Blood Sugar test to measure the blood/sugar level. I went for a physical today. All I had was a couple of toasts and water all day at around 8:30am in the morning. I had my physical at 3 pm and when my doctor asked if I had anything to eat, I told him..just a couple of toasts and water. He said, fine..I can go to the lab (located at his office's building) and get my sugar level tested. So, I go there, get ready for the test, but the person who does the blood draw says, I can't take it because I had something to eat before 8-12 hours. This is conflicting answers as the doctor said it was ok, but then I get turned away when trying to get the test done. So...what's the correct answer? thx.
2007-01-15 09:27:15 · 9 answers · asked by QueAndAy 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
I should have mentioned. I was also scheduled for a lipid profile test. The office doesn't close til 8 pm, so where I left it, I said to the tech person that I'm planning on returning at around 7 pm (that would be about nearly 10 hrs since my last meal). I figure, the doc was ok with me taking the test, and if the results are funky....deal with it then. I'm starving now, and work during the days so I want to get these tests done with the sooner the better.
2007-01-15 09:57:06 · update #1
Thanks everyone for their answers. Since there is such a variety of answers (here and in general public), I really can't decide on one best answer..so I decided to put the answers up for vote. Thanks everybody.
2007-01-18 01:42:17 · update #2
I am a type 1 diabetic and the lab I use is a 45 minute drive from my house, so fasting is not easy for me when I need a fasting blood workup (usually a lipid)I go 8 hours, my doctor told me 8 is good enough, but he'd prefer 10-12 hours.
2007-01-16 06:35:19 · answer #1 · answered by BAR 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-17 15:08:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The technician was being strictly correct, and following the "rules". The doctor was right, in that since it had been several hours, the blood sugar would have given the answer. A single blood sugar test is just to see if you might be borderline or overtly diabetic; there are more extensive tests done if further analysis is needed.
The blood sugar level varies as much as 5 mg-% on a minute--to-minute basis; therefore, any GROSSLY abnormal result will show up. The technician should have performed the test.
As a general rule of thumb, 8-12 hours is fasting, if you're going for surgery, and are apt to vomit your stomach contents. If you're going for blood tests, then 6-8 hours is OK, and you might stretch it to 4-6 hours if the preceding meal was not loaded with carbohydrates (depending on what the test was for). Six to eight hours is a good rule of thumb.
2007-01-15 09:48:04 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. Dave 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-09-19 08:46:09 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes extended fasting raises blood sugar. The liver releases glucose in the absence of food, so if you are diabetic, you may be making the situation worse. I'm kind of confused, though. Just buy a glucose monitor and check whether you're diabetic. It's possible you're torturing yourself with very little food for nothing. I don't know how to help you cheat a fasting blood sugar test, but eating low carb (not just low sugar) and staying hydrated are all you can do. Fasting will not necessarily lower your blood sugar that much.
2016-03-12 21:44:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lab lady was right 8-12 hours is normal protical for fasting lab work of any kind sugar levels would have been out of your system by 330 but the lipid panel needs the 8-12 hours
2007-01-15 11:04:51 · answer #6 · answered by ourlittleposseof12 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-14 22:04:49 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
12 hours is the ideal fast with nothing but water. The minimum should be 8 hours. The time you last ate or drank anything except water needs to be noted so the doctor can correctly interpret the results.
2007-01-15 10:19:32 · answer #8 · answered by Sandy A, RN 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I had my tests done, both the doctor and the lab tech said not to eat or drink anything but water for 12 hrs. before. That's what you should do to make sure you get the correct results.
2007-01-15 09:32:38 · answer #9 · answered by lucas M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the doctor is always correct!
"Fasting" is usually considered overnight fast. In case of blood glucose 6-8 hrs according to different sources.
Now for Lipid Profile, that's really more like 10 hours fasting.
2007-01-15 09:32:15 · answer #10 · answered by neuron finder 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋