Diabetic PET/ CT FDG Scans: Checking your health

A recommended scan for diabetics is a PET/ CT FDG scan, which is used to mimic the flow of glucose through the body.

The test will not only monitor the efficiency of the body’s cells in taking up glucose from the bloodstream and using it for energy, but also record the effectiveness of different structures in the body.

Preparation for the scan begins two weeks prior to the scan’s date, by talking with your diabetes care provider to discuss the limits on exercise, medication, insulin, and fasting, before the actual exam.

Limits on food and medication increase the closer one gets to the exam date, so be aware of blood glucose levels nearing your scan date and check them regularly.

Some professionals recommend trying “practice days” to make sure your blood sugar levels do not drop too low with fasting, since only water is allowed 12 hours before the actual scan.

In any case, checking your body by doing a PET/ CT FDG scan can only be beneficial and made easy if you prepare accordingly.

Many diabetic care providers will gift you with a handout of their specific instructions for things you can and can’t do during the days leading up to the procedure, so be sure to follow all their instructions to receive an accurate test result.

Be sure to follow all the rules, tips, and procedures recommended by professionals, so that you too can have a joyful and healthy life.

Taking care of your health is imperative to a happy life, so take the steering wheel and be proactive!