Dannj

I think it’s actually 3 months.

redrocktom Loc: Sedona

There is usually a fasting period before a comprehensive blood test to ensure accurate results. Just ask the doctor.

Mikie7

A blood panel should be taken in a fasting state. That is, try not to eat after 1800 hrs. and drink nothing after 12:00 or before the sample is drawn,preferably early that morning. The reading will be much more accurate!

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

I suffer from a chronically low M.D. level. Since they quit doing physical exams and started using RN's and PA's to do their job, I decided to use UHH instead.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I can appreciate the severity of health care in our country. It is not worth a bucket of Parrot’s P!ss. Since I work at a major New York City Hospital I and others were trained to provide a full level of care to patients

I would like to offer some advice. Most doctors in private practice are taking it on the chin. Insurance companies are cutting back at every corner. All patient’s are suffering. Find a hospital with full services is essential. Find a staff of physicians who are willing to work hard. Do not be afraid to voice your concerns to the staff. And if all else fails your best advocate is a patient ombudsman.

This is a challenging time for all of us. We will persevere and emerge victorious. We must help ourselves and our families so that we can improve the quality of care in this country!

gouldopfl

This is why I love the VA. I see real doctors who can spend up to 30 minutes per patient unless there needs to be more care. They don't have to worry about insurance and all of that and they do have provide quality care. Before I started at the VA, my PCP had to see 6 people an hour.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

I agree with you completely, to be fair, but my parrot's piddle about not having enough doctors was not just cynical. There are not nearly enough MD's and DO's to provide primary care. This is partly by intent to keep the supply low and contributes to the high demand, i.e. fees high. As a result, patients have been lulled to accept "Nobody gets in to see the wizard. Not nobody!" I joke again, but it is not funny that H&P's by fully trained doctors have all but become a thing of the past. I believe you allude to how practices are squeezed into limiting patient/doctor face time to a minimum in order to maximize pt turnover just to survive. So I agree if you mean the insurance and malpractice industries are making things ever more difficult for doctors to run their practices according to medical principles. I do not envy many physicians today due to parasitic entities that have infested what was once regarded universally as a truly noble profession. But sadly, the lines between profession and a monopolistic industry are very blurry. I also wholeheartedly agree that "We must help ourselves and our families so that we can improve the quality of care in this country!"

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

When my son's medical insurance expired, he tried calling local doctors to become a patient. He got two types of replies: not accepting patients; schedule an interview. He was able to reinstate his insurance and keep his regular doctor. Making a medical appointment means scheduling months in advance.

gouldopfl

Many people are staying away from medical school because of the costs. It is easy to run up 200-600k depending on the specialty. I met a cardiothorastic surgeon who is in his early 50's. He said he will finally finish paying for his student loans I'm 2024. This is ridiculous.

Vladimir200 Loc: Beaumont, Ca.

Redrocktom, a nurse, who took my blood for life insurance many years ago, told me that it is best to fast even when the test does NOT require fasting, i.e. the test will be more accurate if you fast anyhow. She also told me try not to exercise for 24 to 48 hours prior to the test. Interesting, right? My wife just took a blood test that did not require her to fast. I told her to fast anyhow and she actually listened to me :).

Jwshelton Loc: Denver,CO

Your friend needs to define eating "a lot of sugars lately.
Increased consumption for 2 -3 days will not impact the A1C results.

The real question relates to how much and how long.
If he is concerned about test results the answer is to modify your eating habits!

Tom W Loc: Lincoln Co, WA

You don't say if your friend is on Medicare, if so, they require the annual physical. No getting around it. Easy enough to cool it with sweets and carbs for a few weeks prior to the blood draw. Also drink lots of water prior to the blood draw. My 2 cents worth....

Tom W Loc: Lincoln Co, WA

You don't say if your friend is on Medicare, if so, they require the annual physical. No getting around it. Easy enough to cool it with sweets and carbs for a few weeks prior to the blood draw. Also drink lots of water prior to the blood draw. My 2 cents worth....

Tom W Loc: Lincoln Co, WA

You don't say if your friend is on Medicare. If he is they require the annual physical. No getting around it. Easy enough to lay off the sweets and carbs for a week or two prior to the blood draw. Go in fasting but drink lots of water prior. My two cents worth.

marycar53 Loc: Tuscumbia Al

Our Laboratory uses 30 days, Mayo has 2 to 3 months on it's website.