If you had a blood cholesterol test before, then you know that doctors tell their patients to fast for eight hours for good test results. It is quite a tedious task for most patients, but it has been the practice for decades. Now, there is a study that this kind of preparation is not good for people with diabetes anymore. It may even do them harm.
Those with diabetes usually have elevated levels of bad cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein. This condition leads to the accumulation of arterial fat. To prevent erroneous results, doctors instruct their patients to fast before their blood test.
The latest studies suggest that fasting may not be necessary anymore. Specialists from Michigan State University in East Lansing state that when diabetics fast before a blood test, hypoglycemia sets in. The results of the said study appear in the International Journal of Endocrinology. This may already start to influence any doctor’s instructions to patients diagnosed with diabetes. Researchers discovered that diabetics tend to experience FEEHD (fasting-evoked en route hypoglycemia) before their blood test.
Feed and Not FEEHD
FEEHD is when blood glucose becomes uncommonly low (below 70 mg/dL). This causes the patient to experience fainting, confusion and dizziness. This could possibly lead to fatal accidents if the patient is driving to the clinic for the blood test. This is often overlooked in diabetic patients who skip breakfast and show up at the clinic. Hypoglycemia happens because even if they fast, they still take their diabetes medication. This puts them and others at great risk.
Because of this, specialists recommend diabetics not to fast before their blood test.
Update the Guidelines
The experts who spearheaded the study also recognize that eating before blood cholesterol tests highly unlikely to affect the measurements. It may actually bring about better results as opposed to fasting and then possibly passing out before you even get to the lab.
The concept of fasting before any blood test comes from the guidelines of Canadian specialists back in the 1970s. European countries do not use these guidelines anymore. This is a good reason for the specialists in the United States to revise their guidelines to fit their patients’ needs.
Aldasouqi, one of the study’s experts, said that they encourage diabetic patients to ask their physicians if it is truly necessary for them to fast before their blood test. If so, they should be guided on how to take their medications when they fast because of the anticipated changes in the levels of their blood glucose.
Blood tests are necessary to monitor the blood’s sugar and cholesterol levels. For diabetics, fasting may cause loss of consciousness if they still take their diabetes meds without eating anything. This generally does more harm to the patent. Talk to your doctor about fasting before any blood tests so that you can manage your meds the right way. Your health is a top priority and it should not be compromised by fasting, especially if it’s not necessary.
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If you had a blood cholesterol test before, then you know that doctors tell their patients to fast for eight hours for good test results. It is quite a tedious task for most patients, but it has been the practice for decades. Now, there is a study that this kind of preparation is not good for people with diabetes anymore. It may even do them harm.
Those with diabetes usually have elevated levels of bad cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein. This condition leads to the accumulation of arterial fat. To prevent erroneous results, doctors instruct their patients to fast before their blood test.
The latest studies suggest that fasting may not be necessary anymore. Specialists from Michigan State University in East Lansing state that when diabetics fast before a blood test, hypoglycemia sets in. The results of the said study appear in the International Journal of Endocrinology. This may already start to influence any doctor’s instructions to patients diagnosed with diabetes. Researchers discovered that diabetics tend to experience FEEHD (fasting-evoked en route hypoglycemia) before their blood test.
Feed and Not FEEHD
FEEHD is when blood glucose becomes uncommonly low (below 70 mg/dL). This causes the patient to experience fainting, confusion and dizziness. This could possibly lead to fatal accidents if the patient is driving to the clinic for the blood test. This is often overlooked in diabetic patients who skip breakfast and show up at the clinic. Hypoglycemia happens because even if they fast, they still take their diabetes medication. This puts them and others at great risk.
Because of this, specialists recommend diabetics not to fast before their blood test.
Update the Guidelines
The experts who spearheaded the study also recognize that eating before blood cholesterol tests highly unlikely to affect the measurements. It may actually bring about better results as opposed to fasting and then possibly passing out before you even get to the lab.
The concept of fasting before any blood test comes from the guidelines of Canadian specialists back in the 1970s. European countries do not use these guidelines anymore. This is a good reason for the specialists in the United States to revise their guidelines to fit their patients’ needs.
Aldasouqi, one of the study’s experts, said that they encourage diabetic patients to ask their physicians if it is truly necessary for them to fast before their blood test. If so, they should be guided on how to take their medications when they fast because of the anticipated changes in the levels of their blood glucose.
Blood tests are necessary to monitor the blood’s sugar and cholesterol levels. For diabetics, fasting may cause loss of consciousness if they still take their diabetes meds without eating anything. This generally does more harm to the patent. Talk to your doctor about fasting before any blood tests so that you can manage your meds the right way. Your health is a top priority and it should not be compromised by fasting, especially if it’s not necessary.