But doctors say it's equally vital to follow the directions they and the lab give you.
Another physician agrees, saying that when your doctor has an accurate picture of your overall health, they can develop an appropriate care plan for you.
From there, Dr. Curry-Winchell says, she can prescribe medication and order additional testing. But inaccurate lab results can lead to misdiagnoses and unnecessary extra steps, like imaging and prescriptions you don't really need.
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Don’t Do This Before Your Next Blood Test, Doctors Warn
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"Black coffee can influence mainly dehydration values," explains Dr. Yoshua Quinones, MD, a board-certified Internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and labfinder.com contributor. "It can also influence your cholesterol, [including] triglycerides and A1C blood sugar levels."
"Coffee with cream or sugar is much more likely to alter your results," Dr. Darji says. "Sugar directly will elevate your blood glucose levels, and cream or milk will alter your cholesterol levels. With fasting labs, coffee with cream or sugar is not allowed."
Still, doctors, including those at the Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Curry-Winchell, don't recommend black coffee before blood draws, either. In fact, Dr. Curry-Winchell recently observed the effects of black coffee on bloodwork in her practice. One of her patients had two cups of black coffee the morning before his blood draw. His A1C put him in the range for a pre-diabetes diagnosis (5.7% to 6.4%).
Related: ‘I’m an Endocrinologist, and This Is the #1 Coffee Order I Recommend for Stable Blood Sugar’
"Unlike coffee with cream or sugar, it doesn’t contain calories, so it’s less likely to directly spike glucose or triglycerides, which is part of your cholesterol panel," Dr. Darji says. "However, caffeine can still lead to some changes."
"In terms of blood glucose tests, what’s being measured is your body’s ability to regulate sugar," says Dr. Brynna Connor, MD, a healthcare ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com. "Coffee stimulates cortisol and adrenaline, and in some individuals, this causes an increase in blood sugar, and even a small elevation in blood sugar levels can shift your results into a higher category."
Also, coffee is a diuretic, meaning it can cause dehydration. If you hate the blood draw process, you'll want to take this one to heart.
She warns that dehydration can also make some results appear higher than they are, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), which reflects how well the kidneys filter toxins from the body. "When you are dehydrated, it can cause the lab results to be elevated, giving a false impression that your kidneys are not working well," she explains.
Can You Ever Drink Black Coffee Before a Blood Test?
"It depends on the type of test," Dr. Darji says. "For fasting labs, the standard recommendation is to avoid anything other than water for about eight to 12 hours beforehand, which typically includes coffee."
Fasting glucoseLipid panels (especially triglycerides)Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)Basic metabolic panel (BMP)
Dr. Connor notes that fasting typically isn't required for blood tests to check your:
ThyroidVitamin level (often)Complete blood count (CBC)Related: Drinking Coffee Has One Very Surprising Health Benefit
He suggests:
Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of waterWearing short sleeves, so it's easy to access your armsTaking your medications, unless otherwise directedBringing the papers your doctor gave you when they ordered the labworkBringing your IDAvoiding alcohol 24 hours before the testNot engaging in vigorous exercise right before the labUp Next:
Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Coffee Every Day
Sources:
Dr. Uma Darji, MD, a family physician in North CarolinaDr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, the founder of CliniciansWhoCare.comDr. Yoshua Quinones, MD, a board-certified Internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and labfinder.com contributor Dr. Brynna Connor, MD, a healthcare ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.comEffect of Black Coffee on Fasting Metabolic Markers and an Abbreviated Fat Tolerance Test. Current Developments in Nutrition.Coffee intake one hour prior to phlebotomy produces no clinically significant changes in routine biochemical test results. Biochema Medica.Fasting for Blood Work. Cleveland Clinic.Hence then, the article about don t do this before your next blood test doctors warn was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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