For the study, researchers compared cholesterol testing results of 300,000 people from Denmark, Canada, and the U.S. In both the U.S. and Canada, fasting for eight hours before a test is required. In Denmark, however, it is not.
Patients who are scheduled for a lipid profile test should fast (except for water) for 12-14 hours before the blood sample is drawn. If the patient's cholesterol is to be fractionated, he or she also should avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the test. http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Ato...
As a person with diabetes, you should have your blood lipids checked once a year, or as advised by your doctor. These are âfastingâ tests. This means that you must have your blood drawn only after you have fasted (not eaten anything) for at least 9-12 hours. A blood lipid panel helps detect dyslipidemia.