Preparing for your ultrasound appointment

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For all ultrasound appointments that are not listed for special preparation below:

  • Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.
  • Please eat and drink normally prior to and after your scan.
  • You can continue to take your usual medication.
  • Please be aware that your clinician may be male or female.  If you require a specific gender clinician, please call us on 0800 652 4157

Non-Diabetic Patients

  • Please arrive with a full bladder for this examination. Use the following instructions to achieve this:
  • One and a half hours before your appointment time, go to the toilet and empty your bladder.
  • Then drink 1½ pints (800ml) of water, or more to ensure your bladder is full.
  • Finish drinking 800 ml of water 30 – 45 minutes before your exam time.
  • Please DO NOT empty your bladder until after your examination.
  • Please do not eat anything for a minimum of 6 hours before your appointment time.
  • You may take required medications with water.
  • Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.

Diabetic Patients

Please do not eat or drink anything (except water and clear fluids) for 4 hours before your appointment time. 

Please arrive with a full bladder for this examination.  Use the following instructions to achieve this:

  • One and a half hours before your appointment time, go to the toilet and empty your bladder.
  • Then drink 1½ pints (800ml) of water, or more to ensure your bladder is full.
  • Finish drinking 800 ml of water 30 – 45 minutes before your exam time.
  • Please DO NOT empty your bladder until after your examination.

Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.

Have a starchy bedtime snack on the night before your appointment if you are concerned that you may become ‘hypo’.

Do not take your morning diabetic tablets or insulin:

Unless you take long lasting insulin,then continue as normal:

  • Abasaglar® [insulin glargine]
  • Humulin® I [isophane insulin]
  • Insulatard® [isophane insulin],
  • Insuman® Basal [isophane insulin]
  • Lantus® [insulin glargine], Levemir® [insulin detemir]
  • Semglee® [insulin glargine]
  • Suliqua® [insulin glargine with lixisenatide]
  • Tresiba® [insulin degludec]
  • Toujeo® [insulin glargine],
  • Xultophy® [insulin degludec with liraglutide].

Or unless you take injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, then continue as normal:

  • Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon)
  • Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
  • Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)
  • Lixisenatide (Lyxuma)
  • Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)

But you may take other required medications with water.

Check your blood sugar levels at least hourly. If your sugar level is less than 4 or you feel ‘hypo’, have a sugary, non-fizzy drink, GlucoGel or glucose tablets to correct this.

Bring a drink and some biscuits or a sandwich with you for after your scan.

If you have a continuous subcutaneous insulin pump you must contact your nurse contact specialist or care provider for specific advice.

The information is intended to give standard advice to insulin and non-insulin dependent diabetic patients who have been asked to fast in preparation for an ultrasound scan with GP care.

However, every patient’s needs are different so if you have any doubts you are strongly advised to further seek the advice from your GP practice or Diabetes Specialist Nurse.

Non-Diabetic Patients

  • Please arrive with a full bladder for this examination. Use the following instructions to achieve this:
  • One and a half hours before your appointment time, go to the toilet and empty your bladder.
  • Then drink 1½ pints (800ml) of water, or more to ensure your bladder is full.
  • Finish drinking 800 ml of water 30 – 45 minutes before your exam time.
  • Please DO NOT empty your bladder until after your examination.
  • Please do not eat anything for a minimum of 6 hours before your appointment time.
  • You may take required medications with water.
  • Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.

For a female pelvic scan, in most cases, you will be offered a transvaginal (TV or internal) scan as this can often provide greater detail to aid diagnosis in the pelvic region.

The sonographer will place a narrow probe inside your vagina. This probe will have a latex-free cover over it. The probe is then gently moved to allow visualisation of the pelvic organs. The sonographer will discuss this examination with you, should it be required. You will be asked to empty your bladder before this procedure.

The examination can still be undertaken during your period, and will also be offered if you have not been sexually active in line with national guidelines.

If you have had a positive pregnancy test prior to your scan, please contact us on 0203 818 7777

If you are unable to tolerate an internal scan you will be offered a transabdominal scan (TA) instead. Please follow preparation instruction as outlined above.

Diabetic patients

Please do not eat or drink anything (except water and clear fluids) for 4 hours before your appointment time. 

Please arrive with a full bladder for this examination.  Use the following instructions to achieve this:

  • One and a half hours before your appointment time, go to the toilet and empty your bladder.
  • Then drink 1½ pints (800ml) of water, or more to ensure your bladder is full.
  • Finish drinking 800 ml of water 30 – 45 minutes before your exam time.
  • Please DO NOT empty your bladder until after your examination.

Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.

Have a starchy bedtime snack on the night before your appointment if you are concerned that you may become ‘hypo’.

Do not take your morning diabetic tablets or insulin:

Unless you take long lasting insulin, then continue as normal:

  • Abasaglar® [insulin glargine]
  • Humulin® I [isophane insulin]
  • Insulatard® [isophane insulin],
  • Insuman® Basal [isophane insulin]
  • Lantus® [insulin glargine], Levemir® [insulin detemir]
  • Semglee® [insulin glargine]
  • Suliqua® [insulin glargine with lixisenatide]
  • Tresiba® [insulin degludec]
  • Toujeo® [insulin glargine],
  • Xultophy® [insulin degludec with liraglutide].

Or unless you take injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, then continue as normal:

  • Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon)
  • Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
  • Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)
  • Lixisenatide (Lyxuma)
  • Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)

But you may take other required medications with water.

Check your blood sugar levels at least hourly. If your sugar level is less than 4 or you feel ‘hypo’, have a sugary, non-fizzy drink, GlucoGel or glucose tablets to correct this.

Bring a drink and some biscuits or a sandwich with you for after your scan.

For a female pelvic scan, in most cases, you will be offered a transvaginal (TV or internal) scan as this can often provide greater detail to aid diagnosis in the pelvic region. The sonographer will place a narrow probe inside your vagina. This probe will have a latex-free cover over it. The probe is then gently moved to allow visualisation of the pelvic organs. The sonographer will discuss this examination with you, should it be required. You will be asked to empty your bladder before this procedure.

The examination can still be undertaken during your period, and will also be offered if you have not been sexually active in line with national guidelines.

If you have had a positive pregnancy test prior to your scan, please contact us on 0203 818 7777.

If you are unable to tolerate an internal scan you will be offered a transabdominal scan (TA) instead. Please follow Preparation instruction as outlined above.

Non-Diabetic Patients

  • Please arrive with a full bladder for this examination. Use the following instructions to achieve this:
  • One and a half hours before your appointment time, go to the toilet and empty your bladder.
  • Then drink 1½ pints (800ml) of water, or more to ensure your bladder is full.
  • Finish drinking 800 ml of water 30 – 45 minutes before your exam time.
  • Please DO NOT empty your bladder until after your examination.
  • Please do not eat anything for a minimum of 6 hours before your appointment time.
  • You may take required medications with water.
  • Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.

For a female pelvic scan, in most cases, you will be offered a transvaginal (TV or internal) scan as this can often provide greater detail to aid diagnosis in the pelvic region.

The sonographer will place a narrow probe inside your vagina. This probe will have a latex-free cover over it. The probe is then gently moved to allow visualisation of the pelvic organs. The sonographer will discuss this examination with you, should it be required. You will be asked to empty your bladder before this procedure.

The examination can still be undertaken during your period, and will also be offered if you have not been sexually active in line with national guidelines.

If you have had a positive pregnancy test prior to your scan, please contact us on 0203 818 7777

If you are unable to tolerate an internal scan you will be offered a transabdominal scan (TA) instead. Please follow preparation instruction as outlined above.

Diabetic patients

Please do not eat or drink anything (except water and clear fluids) for 4 hours before your appointment time. 

Please arrive with a full bladder for this examination.  Use the following instructions to achieve this:

  • One and a half hours before your appointment time, go to the toilet and empty your bladder.
  • Then drink 1½ pints (800ml) of water, or more to ensure your bladder is full.
  • Finish drinking 800 ml of water 30 – 45 minutes before your exam time.
  • Please DO NOT empty your bladder until after your examination.

Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.

Have a starchy bedtime snack on the night before your appointment if you are concerned that you may become ‘hypo’.

Do not take your morning diabetic tablets or insulin:

Unless you take long lasting insulin, then continue as normal:

  • Abasaglar® [insulin glargine]
  • Humulin® I [isophane insulin]
  • Insulatard® [isophane insulin],
  • Insuman® Basal [isophane insulin]
  • Lantus® [insulin glargine], Levemir® [insulin detemir]
  • Semglee® [insulin glargine]
  • Suliqua® [insulin glargine with lixisenatide]
  • Tresiba® [insulin degludec]
  • Toujeo® [insulin glargine],
  • Xultophy® [insulin degludec with liraglutide].

Or unless you take injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, then continue as normal:

  • Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon)
  • Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
  • Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)
  • Lixisenatide (Lyxuma)
  • Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)

But you may take other required medications with water.

Check your blood sugar levels at least hourly. If your sugar level is less than 4 or you feel ‘hypo’, have a sugary, non-fizzy drink, GlucoGel or glucose tablets to correct this.

Bring a drink and some biscuits or a sandwich with you for after your scan.

For a female pelvic scan, in most cases, you will be offered a transvaginal (TV or internal) scan as this can often provide greater detail to aid diagnosis in the pelvic region. The sonographer will place a narrow probe inside your vagina. This probe will have a latex-free cover over it. The probe is then gently moved to allow visualisation of the pelvic organs. The sonographer will discuss this examination with you, should it be required. You will be asked to empty your bladder before this procedure.

The examination can still be undertaken during your period, and will also be offered if you have not been sexually active in line with national guidelines.

If you have had a positive pregnancy test prior to your scan, please contact us on 0203 818 7777.

If you are unable to tolerate an internal scan you will be offered a transabdominal scan (TA) instead. Please follow Preparation instruction as outlined above.

Non-Diabetic Patients

  • Please do not eat or drink anything (except water) for a minimum of 6 hours before your appointment time.
  • Please only drink clear fluids (i.e. water) before your appointment;
  • You may take required medications with water.
  • Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.

Diabetic patients

Please do not eat or drink anything (except water and clear fluids) for 4 hours before your appointment time. 

Please arrive with a full bladder for this examination.  Use the following instructions to achieve this:

  • One and a half hours before your appointment time, go to the toilet and empty your bladder.
  • Then drink 1½ pints (800ml) of water, or more to ensure your bladder is full.
  • Finish drinking 800 ml of water 30 – 45 minutes before your exam time.
  • Please DO NOT empty your bladder until after your examination.

Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.

Have a starchy bedtime snack on the night before your appointment if you are concerned that you may become ‘hypo’.

Do not take your morning diabetic tablets or insulin:

Unless you take long lasting insulin, then continue as normal:

  • Abasaglar® [insulin glargine]
  • Humulin® I [isophane insulin]
  • Insulatard® [isophane insulin],
  • Insuman® Basal [isophane insulin]
  • Lantus® [insulin glargine], Levemir® [insulin detemir]
  • Semglee® [insulin glargine]
  • Suliqua® [insulin glargine with lixisenatide]
  • Tresiba® [insulin degludec]
  • Toujeo® [insulin glargine],
  • Xultophy® [insulin degludec with liraglutide].

Or unless you take injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, then continue as normal:

  • Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon)
  • Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
  • Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)
  • Lixisenatide (Lyxuma)
  • Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)

But you may take other required medications with water.

Check your blood sugar levels at least hourly. If your sugar level is less than 4 or you feel ‘hypo’, have a sugary, non-fizzy drink, GlucoGel or glucose tablets to correct this.

Bring a drink and some biscuits or a sandwich with you for after your scan.

Please arrive with a full bladder for this examination. Use the following instructions to achieve this:

  • One and a half hours before your appointment time, go to the toilet and empty your bladder.
  • Then drink 1½ pints (800ml) of water, or more to ensure your bladder is full.
  • Finish drinking 800 ml of water 30 – 45 minutes before your exam time.
  • Please DO NOT empty your bladder until after your examination.
  • Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.
  • For a female pelvic scan, in most cases, you will be offered a transvaginal (TV or internal) scan as this can often provide greater detail to aid diagnosis in the pelvic region. The sonographer will place a narrow probe inside your vagina. This probe will have a latex-free cover over it. The probe is then gently moved to allow visualisation of the pelvic organs. The sonographer will discuss this examination with you, should it be required. You will be asked to empty your bladder before this procedure.

The examination can still be undertaken during your period, and will also be offered if you have not been sexually active in line with national guidelines.

If you have had a positive pregnancy test prior to your scan, please contact us on 0203 818 7777.

If you are unable to tolerate an internal scan you will be offered a transabdominal scan (TA) instead. Please follow Preparation instruction as outlined above.

Please arrive with a full bladder for this examination. Use the following instructions to achieve this:

  • One and a half hours before your appointment time, go to the toilet and empty your bladder.
  • Then drink 1½ pints (800ml) of water, or more to ensure your bladder is full.
  • Finish drinking 800 ml of water 30 – 45 minutes before your exam time.
  • Please DO NOT empty your bladder until after your examination.
  • Please wear loose clothing to enable the sonographer to easily access the part of your body that is being examined.

If you are known to the renal team, please contact us on 0203 818 7777 for further advice on how to prepare for your exam.