My doctor just ordered some blood work for me and I'm wondering how people generally handle it.

If I remember correctly from NDR Dr. Atkins recommends that you eat some carbs in the days leading up to the test. I don't have the book in front of me and I can't remember the exact time or number of carbs.

Does everyone generally do this? My edition of the book is several years old, is it still recommended? Has anyone had a test without doing this? What were your results?

Thanks,

-Jim

I didn't and my bloodwork (both times) came out wonderful. All I had to do is fast for 12 hours (which I did).

Hi Jim!

I'm not sure where in the book you saw that or which edition, but I'm pretty sure my current edition says nothing about that.
If you switch how you're eating several days before you get your blood tested, you're not going to get an accurate picture of how your current WOE is affecting your bloodwork.
Everytime I've had my blood tested, I haven't changed anything about how I was eating beforehand. A couple of times I've made some adjustments afterwards depending on the results, but generally my results are pretty good. Good enough for my doctor to be impressed, anyway.

Plus, you want to know how your blood work is while on the diet. If you eat carbs it will alter the true reading.

When I had my bloodwork done, the results were perfect. I was proud because they knew that I wanted bloodwork done because I was on the AD. One nurs felt like she needed to enlighten me. Then she discovered my bloodwork was better than hers.


Black57

Well, I checked the book today, and as it turns out I remembered it wrong. It just goes to show you the value of actually going back and reading the book once in a while.

As it turns out, he did suggest this but only for a glucose tolerance test. He says about this test:



This is from the 1995 Trade Paperback edition on page 75.

I guess way back then it stuck in my head and I've been thinking this ever since.

Thanks for the replies. I'm glad I'm not going to have to go off for the test. I'll tell you how it turns out.

-Jim

Making sure you're VERY well hydrated is the best thing you can do before a blood draw. This may be a bit off topic, but my veins are famous for rolling. I drink almost a gallon of water before a draw and it helps then plump and stay still!