Fasting
Lipid Profile Test.

Sometimes called a fasting cholesterol test.

Let us first understand something about cholesterol/lipids. Lipids are the name for the fats in your blood. These fats travel through the blood attached to a protein, hence their name lipoprotein.

Cholesterol is made up of these lipoproteins.

Lipoproteins are classified as high density (HDL), low density (LDL) or very low density lipoproteins (VLDL)/triglycerides, depending on the relation of protein to fat.

To help you remember which lipoprotein is good for you and which is bad think 'HDL - Healthy' and 'LDL -Lousy'.

When the doctor wants to do a lipid test you will be asked to refrain from eating or drinking anything but water for 9-12 hours so all your food has had time to be digested and therefore will not effect the test results.

What is the purpose of this test?
This test measures the different types of cholesterol and the amount of triglycerides in your blood. This allows your health carer to assess your risk of coronary heart disease.

How is this test done?
A blood sample is taken in the usual way. This is then sent to a laboratory where the lipids in the sample are measured.

How will the results look when they come back?
The results will come back listing 4 numbers.

They portray:-
1. The level of total cholesterol in your blood.
2. The level of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDA). Known as the 'bad' cholesterol.
3. The level of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). Known as the 'good' cholesterol.
4. Triglycerides.

What are the test result targets for a diabetic?
1. Total cholesterol - Target value less than 11mmol/L (200mg/dL)
2. LDL - Your target value is less than 5.6mmol/L (100mg/dL).
3. HDL - Target value more than 2.2mmol/L (40mg/dL).
4. Triglycerides - Target value is less than 8.3 mmol/L (150 mg/dL) .

The further any of these numbers are out of the normal range the more at risk you are of heart disease. However the doctor will work out your risk profile depending upon the presence (or absence) of other risk factors, eg.
Previous heart attack or stroke.
Blood pressure.
Smoking.
Age and sex.
Family history.
Other medical conditions.

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