Blood test fasting period is determined by the doctor when he is sure that the diagnosis will be affected if the patient eats or drinks before the test. The foods and drinks consumed, can seriously alter your fasting blood sugar levels and lipid levels. You must have read that blood and lipid levels in your body change every hour as you eat or drink. Some foods are digested fast while some are digested by the body very slowly. Blood test fasting period minimizes the risk of drastic changes and ensures that there won't be even minor change in the basic sugar and lipid values in the blood test results. Here are the main types of blood tests that require fasting and the general rules about the fasting period.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Doctor's Free Presentation on How to Naturally and Safely Reverse Heart Disease and Lower Cholesterol. Click Here or Visit http://HealthTipsThatWork.com/Cholesterol

Fasting Period for Blood Test: Blood Sugar: The fasting blood glucose test is a routine blood test which is performed to monitor blood sugar levels in diabetic patients and also to diagnose diabetes. It is also helpful in pre-diabetes diagnosis. People are requested to maintain a 8 - 12 hour fast (normally overnight) and not eat anything until the blood is drawn for testing in the morning. The body does not make any glucose from the starch received from food and this helps to get normal fasting blood sugar levels.

Fasting Period for Blood Test: Triglycerides Levels: It is a fact that the levels of triglycerides in the body shoot up by 15 to 20% after eating. This is the reason doctors suggest about 12 hours fasting before the blood test. Fasting is absolutely necessary to get the normal and correct results. 14 hours fasting for blood test is required in case of some patients if their triglyceride levels are expected to reach the normal levels slowly.

Fasting Period for Blood Test: Cholesterol: Blood test fasting period for cholesterol testing may vary from patient to patient. The suggested fasting period is 6 - 12 hours depending on various factors. Sometimes, doctors suggest patients to avoid high cholesterol foods for a week before the blood test. This does not mean that you have to follow a totally different diet. Drastic changes in diet can force the body to use the available cholesterol. This will lead to incorrect results.