Today [6]

kado897 said:

I've been fortunate lately. None of my blood test have involved fasting.

It seems to be fairly common here, although I do not understand why.

Anyway, the insomnia makes it about impossible for someone like me, with my habits. It's now past 17:00 (5 PM) here, I woke up yesterday morning after 04:00 (4 AM), and haven't slept since that. I simply cannot manage a night without whisky, coffee and smoke. Not something I am proud about, just a fact.

Kari said:

It seems to be fairly common here, although I do not understand why.

Anyway, the insomnia makes it about impossible for someone like me, with my habits. It's now past 17:00 (5 PM) here, I woke up yesterday morning after 04:00 (4 AM), and haven't slept since that. I simply cannot manage a night without whisky, coffee and smoke. Not something I am proud about, just a fact.

I don't envy you your troubles Kari. I hope this latest one clears up soon.

Kari said:

It seems to be fairly common here, although I do not understand why.

Food and booze effect the blood cholesterol and sugar & insulin levels(coffee too if with milk and/or sugar) no smoking because it effects blood oxygen/CO² levels.

Not sure they can get to the root if you haven't fasted. Even if they believe you have, it will skew the results...

A Guy

Clinicians are moving away from the fasting tests, in Diabetes treatment at least, due to the issues of getting a "clean" test and thus accurate result.

I am a borderline Type 2 Diabetic and have not had a fasting test for quite some time. Twice a year I have a HbA1c Test, which is not a strong password but a test that shows average Glucose levels over an extended period. This test means that the Fasting test is not required except when the HbA1c levels are found to be well out of "expected range for the patient" This is used for those on Metformin based medication based treatment, Other meds and especially Insulin injection routines require regular Blood sugar "Finger Prick" blood tests as levels a more critical

I have occasional Steroid treatment for my Emphysema, and this can give me a snap Blood sugar reading approaching 30 mmol/L which is way too high but the average is well within the old range <7.5 mmol/L two hours after eating , but slightly more than the new preferred 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L after fasting which is why I am "borderline"

More info on the Test What is HbA1c? - Definition, Units, Conversion, Testing & Control

Barman58 said:

Clinicians are moving away from the fasting tests, in Diabetes treatment at least, due to the issues of getting a "clean" test and thus accurate result.

I am a borderline Type 2 Diabetic and have not had a fasting test for quite some time. Twice a year I have a HbA1c Test, which is not a strong password but a test that shows average Glucose levels over an extended period. This test means that the Fasting test is not required except when the HbA1c levels are found to be well out of "expected range for the patient" This is used for those on Metformin based medication based treatment, Other meds and especially Insulin injection routines require regular Blood sugar "Finger Prick" blood tests as levels a more critical

I have occasional Steroid treatment for my Emphysema, and this can give me a snap Blood sugar reading approaching 30 mmol/L which is way too high but the average is well within the old range <7.5 mmol/L two hours after eating , but slightly more than the new preferred 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L after fasting which is why I am "borderline"

More info on the Test What is HbA1c? - Definition, Units, Conversion, Testing & Control

I'm in the same position as you Nigel. I haven't had a fasting blood test for about 3 years.

I'm thinking this "finger prick" thing may be more of a concern

A Guy

A Guy said:

I'm thinking this "finger prick" thing may be more of a concern

A Guy

It's relatively painless Bill.

kado897 said:

It's relatively painless Bill.

Not nearly as traumatic as a new build, but still a chance of bleeding with either.

A Guy said:

Not sure they can get to the root if you haven't fasted. Even if they believe you have, it will skew the results...

I almost managed it. Lab at 08:00 (8 AM) today, had nothing to eat or drink since 20:00 (8 PM) last night. Again an almost sleepless night, I had to cheat by having two cigarettes during the night.

For me, that was as perfect result as possible.