Does anyone know?

HI NannyAnny,

 The non fasting test is not conclusive for diabetes.  I had a borderline diabetes result on a blood test once and was then sent for a fasting test which was well within normal limits.  So I would guess that your lifestyle chat will be the normal "exercise, sensible eating etc"" one.  Well, we all know the theory don't we; it's just the putting it into practice that we find tricky!   Then you will have a fasting blood test, which hopefully will show a better result.   

Hi nannyAnny, drinking the water before you have a blood test helps the body keep hydrated and it assists them because the blood will flow more easily into the test tubes they use. If you don't drink  water, especially on a fasting test they can have a right old job getting any blood from your veins. As regards the non fasting food will raise the blood sugar slightly if the test is taken within two hours of having eaten . In this day and age when diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes is becoming more common and is preventable most healthcare professionals will give you a chat about weight,exercise and healthy eatings routine( we are encouraged to in pharmacy as part of our service) purely because there are so many ready meals and takeaways that load their recipes with too much sugar and salt. Recently there habeen a crackdown on this encouraging the producers to make their meals more healthy and the introduction of the sugar tax to try and dissuade people from purchasing high sugar drinks and educate theublic at large. In days of yore, when everyone cooked things from scratch we didn't see so many of these preventable diseases occuring. I'm in no way dissing ready meals because they can be very han for the odd occasions but these days when everyone is working, have no time, the 24 hour working culture and children having to fend for themselves on occasions with meals I can quite see how peoplchoose the easy options and these diseases are on the increase. Also the situation is not helped by taking cookery out of schools and all the health and safety barriers. As my granny used to say, evything in moderation and you won't go far wrong. So I would point out to your doctor that you did not fast for the tests on this occasion and take her advice 're the lifestyle choices. Even the tinit changes can make such a difference, you don't have to do everything at once, just introduce it gradually. You haven't got diabetes yet so hold onto that fact and you don't really want it calling ayour door with all of its risks and problems on top of everything else. I would add that I am not a medic but I have undertaken pharmacy training in these matters. Hope this helps. Love and hugs,

Thanks for that, oldady. Just what I thought!!! I've had the blood test for years, and its the first one I've not fasted for!!!  xxxx

Sorry, I think my lamb and it's friend have photobombed  that post..I hope you can make sense of it! I must have pressed something! Oh well, why change the habit of a lifetime....one of these days I will learn to post properly!xxlamb

Sorry, I think my lamb and it's friend have photobombed  that post..I hope you can make sense of it! I must have pressed something! Oh well, why change the habit of a lifetime....one of these days I will learn to post properly!xxlamb

Hi Little Lamb,

Thank you for that, and the lambs!!! I know drinking water helps the blood flow. I also read that water thins the blood. They always have trouble getting blood out of me, no matter what I do. Its usually 2 attempts, last week it was 3!!!

I had the chat re exercise and diet when I was 57, and they got me for cholesterol!! Since then I've tried to 'watch it', and my weight has been stable once I got over the hysterectomy. I am going to ask about the two variables I've noticed in the test. xxxxx 

I used to have to fast for my annual blood tests and they were always fine but the last couple of times they didn't ask me to fast, and I was told a few months ago that I was pre-diabetic.  It was all very vague really, cut down on sugar and try and lose weight as usual.  No mention of another blood test until presumably I have my next annual one done, in which case I shall ask for a fasting one to get a more accurate reading!  

xx

Hi Poppysmum,

I've already decided I'm going to fast next time!!!!  XXXX

Hi NannyAnny can I ask how long you hve been on statins? I was borderline diabetic 6 years ago and they put me on statins (because every diabetic should be on them) which pushed my blood sugar up to diabetic levels. When I came off them after 6 months due to other side effects my blood sugar rapidly dropped to normal levels and have been in the non diabetic range for over 5 years. Google statins and there is a raft of information re side effects etc.

Re the blood test you probably had an hba1c test which measures what your blood glucose has been doing for the last 3 months so fasting wouldn't help although it may do for measuring cholesterol. The general spectrum is under 41 is classes as non diabetic levels,  42 to 47 is pre-diabetic and 48 and over is diabetic. In addition the best way to reduce blood glucose for T2 is by cutting down on carbs such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, some fruits and cereals (I'm on approx 100 - 120 per day) and increasing the good fats such as full fat yoghurt, butter and cheese - strange but true!! Google Low Carb High Fat diet and the diabetes.co.uk forum and you will see a lot of T2 diabetics and pre diabetics have managed to dramatically reduce their blood sugar and, in some cases, get their diabetes into remission like I have.

Hope this helps and I haven't rambled too much!!

They usually use the hba1c these days to check blood sugar levels rather than the glucose drink and measure 2 hours layer that they used to do. I don't quite know how it works but apparently they can check your average blood sugar over the last 4 to 6 months....so my Dr tells me. I wonder if that would be affected by fasting? I suspect probably not because I don't always have to fast before my regulate diabetes blood test.