For best results, it is important to follow some simple pre-exam procedures for a PET-CT scan. There are specific instructions for diabetic and non-diabetic patients. If you have any questions on either scenario, please feel free to call us at 203-789-3646.
Diabetic Pre-Test Instructions
- You will need to eat your normal breakfast and take your diabetic medicine 4 hours prior to your appointment. That means for example, if your appointment is at 11:00 a.m., you need to have eaten and taken your medicine before 7:00 a.m.
- If you take diabetic medicine, please bring in a list of your medicines.
- No caffeine 12 hours prior to your appointment time.
- Please increase your water intake the day before and the day of your appointment. You may take your medications with water, as normal.
- No exercise the day prior to your test or on the day of your appointment.
- Please do not wear any metal for your appointment. For example, a belt buckle, zipper in jeans, hairpins or clips, and buttons on shirts may all contain metal and will not be allowed in the camera. We also suggest you dress comfortably for your appointment because this test can take up to 3 hours to complete.
- If you are claustrophobic you may want to get medication from your doctor to help calm you. You will be going into a large tube, similar to a CT machine for your pictures and you will need to stay still.
- These instructions are very important to the outcome and the ability to perform your test.
There are four parts to your test:
- We will test your blood glucose level using a small finger stick.
- Injection of a radioactive isotope (F-18 FDG) which has no side effects.
- Waiting. This is to allow for the radioactive isotope to distribute throughout your body. It may take an hour once you are injected. During this time, it’s important that you stay still. You may bring in your MP3 or CD player to listen to music if you’d like, but you will not be able to use them while you’re being imaged.
- The imaging may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on what your doctor has ordered.
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NON- Diabetic Pre-Test Instructions
- No food 6 hours prior to your appointment time. This includes gum, candy, cough drops or lozenges.
- No caffeine 12 hours prior to your appointment time.
- Please increase your water intake the day before and the day of your appointment. If you take medications, you may do so as normal with water.
- No exercise the day prior to your test or on the day of your appointment.
- Please do not wear any metal for your appointment. For example a belt buckle, zipper in jeans, hairpins or clips, and buttons on shirts may all contain metal and will not be allowed in the camera. We also suggest that you dress comfortably for your appointment because the test can take up to 3 hours to complete.
- If you are claustrophobic, you may want to get medication from your doctor to help calm you. You will be going into a large tube similar to a CT machine for your pictures and you will have to stay still.
- These instructions are very important to the outcome and the ability to perform your test.
There are four parts to your test:
- We will test your blood glucose level using a small finger stick.
- Injection of a radioactive isotope (F-18 FDG) which has no side effects.
- Waiting. This is to allow for the radioactive isotope to distribute throughout your body. It may take an hour once you are injected. During this time, it’s important that you stay still. You may bring in your MP3 or CD player to listen to music if you’d like, but you will not be able to use them while you’re being imaged.
- The imaging may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on what your doctor has ordered.
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Also see: Diabetes Healthcare Program
Page last updated on Jan. 14, 2010
