Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
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Do you typically have your lab work performed before, during, or after your appointments with your main T1D health care provider? Cancel reply
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If my provider suggests a lab test, I get it done ASAP. Makes no difference if it’s before or after I see my provider. Sometimes a lab test is suggested before an appointment, I try to comply. Regular tests like eye exams, cholesterol, kidney function, blood glucose levels, and regular downloads of CGM monitor, etc. are vital. If you don’t test, you don’t know. Sometimes I request a test, like for testosterone levels. Beware of BS like, “Well, that’s normal for your age.” Or, “Your insurance won’t pay for that.” Beware of privatizing/financilization of Medicare. Beware of privatizing/financialization of Hospice. See the latest issue of The Retiree Advocate. Or search for Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action.
At Joslin, bloodwork is drawn at the start of the appointment and shows up on the computer while I am chatting with my endo.
I usually receive lab requests 6 months prior, will get work done one week prior to visit so that I have lab results on my desk before Endo visit. This way I know the results & any concerns I may have.
This is what I do also.
I’ve had different endo practices do it different ways. My current endo visits have a blood test at the end, and a few days later my endo uses the patient portal to get the results to me. I would prefer it if I had my labwork a week before the endo visit, and previous docs I had did it that way, but that’s not the way my current endo’s practice does it.
Can I choose all of the above. Sometimes I forget and sometimes I remember to get it done a few weeks before my appt and sometimes I do it the morning of ,🤷🏼♀️
I get my lab work done anywhere from 4 hours before the Endo appointment to several days before. The only negative is that I have to either drive twice most times to get it done days prior, or spend the entire day at MAYO Clinic for blood work on the same day. We always review my lab results at the Endocrinologist visit. It is the main focus of the visit.
My answer really depends on the type of test. My endo checks my A1C on the spot and we discuss it along with my daily glucose values during the visit. However, when it comes to routine bloodwork for lipids, cholesterol, and vitamins (b12, D, b1, b6), those tests are run after my visit and his office will call if they find issues. My test results are posted online so that all my physicians (GP, OB/GYN) have access to them, which is vital.
My original (retired) endo put in the lab order so that I could go in ahead of my appointment and she had the results. My current endo sends me across the hall for labs after my appointment. I preferred the first way.
Same here!
All of the above! It depends on the occasion. Lately I’ve been getting my A1Cs done upon arrival the day of the appointment, but there are times when, for whatever reason, they have me wait and do it another time between appointments.
Sometimes I get my labs done before, sometimes after. Sometimes the doctor decides they want something else that requires another blood draw. Although it would be nice to have the results discussed, sometimes the doctor just reads the numbers aloud. Or they focus on some slight variation to justify pushing what they do for everybody and dismiss larger variations that I would prefer to have addressed.
Another reason to wait: the reason I attend the appointment is to have continued access to insulin and CGM. Last time I dropped by reception after my blood draw to ensure the previous day’s physician notes had been faxed to Edwards. Of course they assured me they had, but I think my physical and vocal presence was more effective than multiple phone calls over several weeks.
drives me nuts when my endo doesn’t do the lab order until after the appointment!
he does do the A1C at the appointment.
I get labs done in office two weeks before Endo appointment. That way I can see them and know what I want to discuss.
It’s complicated. My endocrine oncologist has me do lab work and he reviews with me remotely every four months or so. And he does that only because I’m in cancer treatment (which caused the T1D in the first place). But my regular endocrinologist has not yet asked for blood work. I started seeing her in Oct, a month after my diagnosis. She just looks at my Dexcom/t.connect numbers during a telehealth call. Weird, huh?
Blood draw when I get to the office. They usually pull an extra vial so that if the endo decides he wants something else, they’ll already be able to do that without another draw. A1C is done by the time my doc sees me.
Who writes these questions. Isn’t it common knowledge for your three month appointment to get your labs done for the next appointment I don’t know I guess that’s just the way my doctor does it then we can discuss it anything else she may order after her visit
These questions are for research purposes. They aren’t specifically tailored for one person. I’ve had it done differently by different endocrinologists and how their particular practice is run
In order to get pump supplies and Dexcom G6 Medicare requires you to get an A1c and see your doctor every three months is this different in different states I don’t quite follow
The most compelling reason I know of for doing research is the phrase “common Knowledge.” No it is not. Those of us who have been around the track a lap or two remember 1) no correlation between carbs and insulin, 2) no pumps, 3) no CGM’s, 4) blood glucose not measured at all, 5) blood work done in the endocrinologists office, 6) blood work done off site, 7) blood work done and shipped electronically, and finally, 8) blood work done immediately and on site.
It reminds me of two lines from Macbeth. In one, Duncan states: “What bloody man is that? He can report, As seemeth by his plight.
The other line? “And Fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling, . . . But all’s too weak.”
I remember it all 61 years for me. Medicare has us on a tightrope.
For the past 4 years it’s been done at my port draw (oncology) closest to my every 3 month check up.
Annual lab work is done just prior to next scheduled appointment. Blood for A1c is done via finger stick onsite at time of appointment (every 4-5 mos), and results are given during that appointment.
Covid has thrown a money wrench into when I get my lab work. My appointments have been in person or on the phone, and I can’t quite sync the labs so that they are just before my visit. Hoping this time is the charm.
I haven’t seen my T1D provider in person for quite a while, only via video conference. Since I had a kidney transplant I’ve had lots of lab work due to that. I suspect that they look at those labs and add to the list what they want to see.
This depends on if it is yearly or just A1c. I get yearly labs: Thyroid, cholestrlerol, cbc, creatine, etc done before my appointment, but A1c is an in office fingerstick with results in about 5 min after arrival, between in tale and meeting with endo.
For A1c, the fingerstick is done prior to seeing the doc.
For all the other fun and games, it just depends. Too many issues. Too many docs.
The process I’m being asked to follow is right smack dab in the middle of changing.
My retired endo had me go to the lab a week or so before my appointment so that we could discuss all the results when I saw them.
My new endo will draw blood at the appointment. I prefer having current/up-to-date results to talk about instead of talking about results from 3 months ago.
I don’t know if it will just be an A1c or if I’ll get the “extras”: cholesterol, CBC, Vit D, calcium, etc. I hope I get the extras!!
I try to get all labs done a couple days before my appointment because I want to know results and make a list of concerns/questions before the appointment. My endo appreciates knowing what I want to focus on, so I send her a note via MyChart the day before the appointment.
I don’t see an endocrinologist , my doc ( a. GP) gets my a1C tested during the intake and we discuss this. Sometimes a blood draw and I’ll get a card mailed with instructions: generally “all normal, no changes needed.”
In the past had blood drawn a week or so early but little was discussed.
I chose “other” because I like to get my lab work done before my appointment so that I can discuss the results with my doctor. However, given my work schedule I am not always able to as the lab is only open when I am at work. This means I have to take time off work to get it done and my employer is not always willing to let me do so without penalty. For the moment, I do what I can.
I’d also like to point out that my previous endo had my blood drawn after I saw him and we would discuss the results via email between visits. I would sometimes have to wait to ask questions, because his PA did not always have the answers. This was frustrating!
rapid A1c is done prior, I receive result in 15 minutes to share with provider at visit. Other blood work results are available next day
My bloodwork is not done before my appointment, but my time in range is available to be looked at and discussed during my appointment. My bloodwork is available shortly thereafter by MyChart if necessary, which has never happened in difference to time in range.