Bloodwork And Fasting?

[hjello]

I just got back from the doctors to discuss some GI issues I am having. I asked her about Celiac based on some other symptoms I am having. She doesn't think it's celiac but asked if I wanted to have a scope done.

In Canada the Celiac blood tests are not covered by our insurance. But she said she would start by sending me for some other blood tests that will measure inflammation.

I have to fast for an ultrasound she is sending me for and the lab told me to fast 8 hours for the bloodwork aswell.

Here are the tests she is sending me for:

Glucose

AST (SGOT)

Blood Film exam

Hemoglobin

WBC Count

ESR

CReactive (or CReactine) Protien (hard to read her writing!)

ALT

B-Carotene

Serum B12

I started thinking that maybe fasting isn't a good idea...any thoughts. I will double check with the lab again, but I just wanted some input first.

[psawyer]

Fasting is usually associated with blood tests for lipids (cholesterol). But there is a glucose test on the list, and that can be either "random" or "fasting." In either case, it is diabetes that is being investigated.

A fasting blood glucose level more than 7.0 mmol/L (as measured in Canada) is generally considered diagnostic of diabetes if it happens on two occasions.

Creatine is a protein. The levels in the blood and urine are indicative of kidney function, and abnormal levels can be an indicator for diabetes.

Is it just plain hemoglobin? Glycosylated hemoglobin, also known as hemoglobin A1c, or HbA1c, is another diagnostic test for diabetes.

[hjello]

Fasting is usually associated with blood tests for lipids (cholesterol). But there is a glucose test on the list, and that can be either "random" or "fasting." In either case, it is diabetes that is being investigated.

A fasting blood glucose level more than 7.0 mmol/L (as measured in Canada) is generally considered diagnostic of diabetes if it happens on two occasions.

Creatine is a protein. The levels in the blood and urine are indicative of kidney function, and abnormal levels can be an indicator for diabetes.

Is it just plain hemoglobin? Glycosylated hemoglobin, also known as hemoglobin A1c, or HbA1c, is another diagnostic test for diabetes.

Thank you for the post Peter. So, do all of these tests look like it is investigating diabetes? Which test would be measuring inflammation as that is one of the things the doctor said she was looking for.

[psawyer]

The doctor is investigating the possibility of diabetes, but this may only be to exclude it.

I don't recognize all the tests in the list. The one that do that is directly related to inflammation (or infection) is the WBC count. Inflammation is an immune response, and increased numbers of white blood cells are an indicator.

AST or SGOT is a liver function test, but can also indicate cardiac issues.

I don't know much about the others. B12 deficiency can be an indicator of so many things, including celiac disease, that the presence of that test does not signify anything notable. It is one of the tests that just gives a general health indication. If your B12 is okay, that rules out a lot of things. If not, keep looking for the reason.