Do You Need to Fast Before a Cholesterol and Diabetes Test?

Do you have to be fasting for a cholesterol test and glucose or A1C test for diabetes? No you don't. You don't have to but it is a must that the doctor know that it is not a fasting result.

If all that is needed is a simple cholesterol then there isn't much of a difference between a fasting total cholesterol or non-fasting total cholesterol. What is significantly different is the triglyceride level. If you are having a lipid panel that includes other lipids besides total cholesterol then it is recommended that you fast so the triglyceride levels can be evaluated. If you are not fasting and have a lipid panel then the non-HDL fraction of the lipid panel is used to assess your lipid status which many think is more accurate anyways and the triglyceride level is ignored because there is no reference range for a non-fasting triglyceride result.

As far as glucose is concerned there are two different reference ranges that are used depending on whether one is fasting or not. Glucose is kept within a relatively narrow range in normal people and anytime the glucose is over 200 indicates diabetes whether the person is fasting or not.

Fasting for A1C levels are not required and valid either way.

18 hours is the normal

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I've always been told to fast for 12 hours (with minimum water) for my cholesterol test. Unless you're doing a glucose tolerance test, you don't have to fast for diabetes tests (but you can if you want.

there are two tests fasting blood sugar level test and random blood sugar level test if A1C is not available. A1C - this test indicates your blood sugar level for past two to three months. whereas fasting blood sugar level test is done after an overnight fasting which indicates your lowest blood sugar level, and random blood sugar level test doesn't require any fasting and after considering these two tests if you are diagnosed with diabetes then the doctor will further run tests for auto antibodies that distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

for the cholesterol testing YES! it matters a great deal
for the HbA1c diabetes testing NO! it is an average of the last 90 days of glucose clinging to red blood cells.

cannot believe a nurse ok'd your breakfast before cholesterol testing!! They don't even like for me to have coffee, plain black before testing!! But I have to get my eyes opened to drive 2 hours before the testing, so I drink my coffee!!

Normally yes you do and I have to when I get my 6 monthly blood tests but my partner is also diabetic but works nightshift so cant really go first thing on an empty stomach but we always let the doctor know

yes. otherwise your diabetes test will be off.

18 hours is the normal