14 hours on water only for fasting bloods - really???

ellay864

DH has just had to cancel a blood test at our GP that he was due tomorrow as he's found out he has to fast for 14 hours, nothing other than plain tap water in that time. He wasn't told that detail at the time of booking it, I've only just been told on calling them to check. Given that his appointment is 8.40 and he's stuck on his way home and hasn't eaten since lunchtime there's no way he'll make it.
I've had fasting bloods done on a few hospital visits recently for various reasons and never had to fast that long. Have I just got lucky or does this seem excessive to anybody else? I used to work in labs and we never had people fasting that long but it has been a few years so concede things may have changed

HappyMJ

He's only skipping one meal. He should be able to do that. Tell him to have a really big breakfast following the appointment.

j.e.j.

I usually get told it's 12 hours for a fasting blood test, but it seems to depend on who I ask! One nurse did say 14 hours to me, but she didn't refuse to do my blood test. I hadn't eaten since about 9 the night before and had the bloods done at around 9am the next day. Maybe there's some info on the nhs website about it?

coinxoperated

I have bloods on the 22nd at 9:50am and have been told to not eat from 10pm the night before.

ellay864

HappyMJ wrote: »

He's only skipping one meal. He should be able to do that. Tell him to have a really big breakfast following the appointment.

Too latre now he's cancelled anyway! But all he's had to eat today is a slice of toast at breakfast and a sandwich at lunch, there's no way he'll last til tomorrow on that. And he won't have time for a large breakfast tomorrow as he'll have to get straight off to work. He has been talkibng about trying the 5:2 diet...maybe he could use this to start lol

bundly

Yes it is 14 hours. But I fail to see the problem. You simply get a morning appointment, say for 9 or 10am eat a meal which is heavy on fat and meat at about 7pm or 8pm, and that will easily last anyone 15 hours.

DUTR

ellay864 wrote: »

DH has just had to cancel a blood test at our GP that he was due tomorrow as he's found out he has to fast for 14 hours, nothing other than plain tap water in that time. He wasn't told that detail at the time of booking it, I've only just been told on calling them to check. Given that his appointment is 8.40 and he's stuck on his way home and hasn't eaten since lunchtime there's no way he'll make it.
I've had fasting bloods done on a few hospital visits recently for various reasons and never had to fast that long. Have I just got lucky or does this seem excessive to anybody else? I used to work in labs and we never had people fasting that long but it has been a few years so concede things may have changed

To be fair he would probably make it on water alone, the body is designed to go for days without food, so it is only psycological tat he fancies eating.
Thinking about it, mine was not to eat from 1800 the night prior, so it would be around 15hrs fasting.

bundly wrote: »

Yes it is 14 hours. But I fail to see the problem. You simply get a morning appointment, say for 9 or 10am eat a meal which is heavy on fat and meat at about 7pm or 8pm, and that will easily last anyone 15 hours.

If the guy is having to have his blood tested then perhaps his diet may already be poor or not towards optimium, foods with a low GI would be my choice or veg.

j.e.j.

I think the issue was he wasn't told he needed to fast. Had he known he could have arranged his meals in advance.

busiscoming2

I wasn't told to fast the first time I had a blood test and then the second time I didn't even drink water as I didn't think I could. I know better now

Here's the nhs page:

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1018.aspx?CategoryID=69

lindens

bundly wrote: »

Yes it is 14 hours. But I fail to see the problem. You simply get a morning appointment, say for 9 or 10am eat a meal which is heavy on fat and meat at about 7pm or 8pm, and that will easily last anyone 15 hours.

this is what i do, every time

heartbreak_star

DUTR wrote: »

If the guy is having to have his blood tested then perhaps his diet may already be poor or not towards optimium, foods with a low GI would be my choice or veg.

Ah DUTR I normally agree with everything you say, but not this!

Protein and fat-heavy meals are the way forward for longevity. Your body processes veg really fast, and even low-GI carbs won't fill you up for as long as meat.

Fasting blood tests are also often for hormone deficiencies (I have to do them for hypothyroidism) rather than anything dietary

My surgery's gotten much better for telling you how long you need to fast for, but as standard it is 12-15 hours.

HBS x