Preparing for Your Scan
Your PET-CT Preparation — One Card That Covers It All
If you arrive having eaten, exercised, or not told the staff about diabetes, the images may be unusable and the appointment rescheduled. This card tells you what to do — and what to avoid — from the evening before until you leave the centre.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Fasting is not optional — Eating before the scan affects how the tracer is taken up and can make the images unreadable.
- Exercise the day before also matters — Strenuous activity raises glucose uptake in muscles, which interferes with the scan images.
- Plain water is allowed and encouraged — It is the one drink you should keep drinking right up to your appointment.
- Diabetes and kidney problems need advance notice — Tell your treating team and the imaging centre before the day so special arrangements can be made.
17+
Cancer Specialists
on Panel
on Panel
96.9%
Breast Cancer
Survival Rate*
Survival Rate*
15,000+
Patients
Treated
Treated
4.8★
Google Rating
(800+ reviews)
(800+ reviews)
A PET-CT scan requires fasting, avoiding strenuous exercise the day before, and drinking only plain water on the day. Your centre will confirm the exact fasting window at booking. Follow every step on this card and the scan will give your team the clearest possible images — saving you from having to repeat the appointment.
CION offers PET-CT in Hyderabad from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city, with no hidden charges. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
How do you prepare for a PET-CT scan?
Day before: stop strenuous exercise
Avoid running, the gym, cycling, and heavy lifting from the evening before your scan. Light walking is fine. Strenuous exercise draws the radiotracer to muscles, making the images harder to read.
Evening before: eat your last meal at the time your centre confirms
Have a light meal at the time your booking confirmation specifies. Avoid high-sugar foods, sweet drinks, and alcohol in that meal. After that confirmed time, nothing to eat until the scan is done.
Morning of the scan: fast and drink only plain water
No food. No tea, coffee, milk, juice, or sweetened drinks of any kind. Plain water is not only allowed — it is encouraged. Bring a bottle and keep drinking on the way to the centre.
At the centre: tell the staff what they need to know
Bring your referral letter and any previous scan reports. Tell the staff at the front desk immediately if you have diabetes, kidney problems, or take regular medicines. Do not wait to be asked.
Before the injection: blood sugar is checked
A finger-prick test checks that your glucose level is within the range needed for accurate imaging. If it is too high, the appointment may need to be rescheduled. Tell your team about diabetes well before the scan day so they can help you arrive in range.
Uptake period: rest quietly after the injection
After the radiotracer is injected, you will wait in a recliner while it circulates. Stay warm and still. Do not use your phone, walk around, or talk more than needed — active muscles absorb the tracer and affect the images.
After the scan: drink water and keep brief distance from young children
Drink several glasses of plain water after you leave — the tracer clears through urine and water speeds this. Stay at arm's length from young children and pregnant women for the period the staff advise before you go.
Why does preparation decide whether the scan is usable?
A PET-CT scan works by tracking where a radioactive sugar tracer concentrates in your body. When you eat before the scan, your blood glucose rises and the tracer competes with natural glucose — it stops concentrating in cancer cells the way it needs to.
Exercise causes the same problem. Muscle activity draws the tracer away from the area your oncologist is trying to see. One strenuous session the day before is enough to affect the images.
If the preparation is incomplete and the scan cannot be read, the appointment is not counted as done. You will be asked to return on another day — which delays your treatment plan. A few hours of preparation prevents that.
PET-CT Partner Centres
PET-CT Scan Centres in Hyderabad
CION offers PET-CT scans through 4 trusted partner PET-CT centres across Hyderabad, so you can choose the one closest to you. Call 18002028726 and we’ll guide you to the earliest available appointment.
PET-CT Centre — Punjagutta
PET-CT Centre — Himayatnagar
PET-CT Centre — Narayanaguda
These are partner diagnostic centres within the CION network. Toll-free booking: 18002028726.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Interventional Radiologist
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
You do not have to work this out alone
A 45-minute consultation with a specialist who treats this every week.
Print this and tick it off before you leave home
- I stopped strenuous exercise from the evening before the scan
- I have not eaten since the fasting time my centre confirmed
- I have drunk only plain water today — no tea, coffee, milk, or juice
- I am wearing loose, comfortable clothing with no metal accessories
- I have my referral letter and any previous scan reports
- I have told the centre if I am diabetic or have kidney problems
- I have left all jewellery and metal items at home
- I know the period to keep my distance from young children after the scan
What is allowed and what is not at each stage?
| Stage | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Day before the scan | Light walking, light meals, plain water | Strenuous exercise, alcohol, high-sugar foods in the evening |
| Morning of the scan | Plain water | All food, tea, coffee, juice, milk, sweetened drinks |
| Before the injection | Plain water, sitting calmly | Eating, sweetened drinks |
| Uptake period — after injection | Resting quietly in the recliner | Walking, phone use, talking, eating |
| After leaving the centre | Plenty of plain water, normal activities for adults | Close contact with young children or pregnant women until the advised period passes |
Did you know?
Elevated blood glucose on the day of the scan is one of the most common reasons a PET-CT appointment has to be rescheduled. Because the radiotracer competes with natural glucose for uptake into cells, high glucose on the day can make cancer cells appear inactive or invisible on the images.
Telling your team about diabetes well before the appointment — not on the morning — is what allows them to help you arrive in range.
Source: SNMMI and EANM Procedure Guidelines for Tumour Imaging with FDG PET/CT
Book a PET-CT at CION from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — with an oncologist-reviewed report and a free Rs 950 consultation, across 4 partner centres. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 64 more Preparing For and Having Your Scan Safely topics
Preparing for Your Scan
- A Printable PET-CT Preparation Card
- Can I Drink Water Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Can I Have a PET-CT Scan During My Period?
- Can I Take My Regular Medicines Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Can You Reschedule a PET-CT Scan?
- Cold Weather, Shivering and Brown Fat: Why You Are Asked to Stay Warm
- Fasting Before a PET-CT Scan: How Long and Why
- How to Prepare for a PET-CT Scan: The Complete Checklist
- Preparing a Very Elderly or Frail Person for a PET-CT
- Preparing a Wheelchair-Bound or Bedridden Patient
- Preparing for a PSMA, DOTATATE or FAPI PET-CT
- Should I Avoid Exercise Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Smoking, Alcohol and Caffeine Before a PET-CT Scan
- What Happens If You Break the Fast by Mistake?
- What to Carry to Your PET-CT Appointment
- What to Eat the Day Before a PET-CT Scan
- What to Wear to a PET-CT Scan
- Why Your Kidney Function Test Is Needed Before a PET-CT
Diabetes & Blood Sugar for PET-CT
- A Diabetic Patient's PET-CT Day Plan
- Best Appointment Time for a Diabetic PET Scan
- Can Diabetics Take Their Tablets Before a PET Scan?
- Does Diabetes Change Your SUV Reading?
- Fasting Safely With Diabetes Before a Scan
- Insulin and PET-CT: Timing Rules
- Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Found Before a Scan
- PET-CT Scan With Diabetes: The Complete Preparation Guide
- PET-CT With Steroid-Induced High Sugars
- What Blood Sugar Level Is Needed for a PET-CT Scan?
- What Happens If Your Sugar Is High on the Day?
- What to Eat the Day Before if You Have Diabetes
Radiation Safety & After-Scan Precautions
- Are You Radioactive After a PET-CT Scan?
- Being Around Pregnant Women After a PET-CT Scan
- Can I Hold My Child or Grandchild After a PET-CT Scan?
- Can a PET-CT Scan Cause Cancer?
- Cumulative Radiation From Repeated Scans
- Do You Need Precautions After a PSMA or DOTATATE Scan?
- Do You Need Separate Utensils or a Separate Toilet After a PET-CT?
- How Long Does the Tracer Stay in Your Body?
- How Long Should You Avoid Close Contact After a PET-CT?
- How Many PET-CT Scans Are Safe in a Year?
- How Much Radiation Is in a PET-CT Scan?
- Is PET-CT Radiation Different From Radiotherapy?
- Is the Radiation From a PET-CT Scan Dangerous?
- PET-CT Radiation Compared With CT, X-Ray and Natural Background
- Radiation Safety at Home After Your Scan: A Family Checklist
- Radiation Safety for Staff and Attendants at the Centre
- Simple Steps to Clear the Tracer Faster
- Travelling Home After a PET-CT Scan: Public Transport and Airports
Scan Day: What Actually Happens
- Can Someone Stay With Me During the Scan?
- Can You Drive Yourself Home After a PET-CT Scan?
- Can You Have Sedation for a PET-CT Scan?
- Can a PET-CT Scan Be Done on the Same Day as Other Tests?
- Contrast in a PET-CT Scan: When It Is Used and Why
- Eating and Drinking After Your PET-CT Scan
- How Long Does a PET-CT Scan Take?
- Is a PET-CT Scan Painful?
- Is a PET-CT Scanner Closed Like an MRI? Claustrophobia Explained
- The Tracer Injection: Does It Hurt?
- What Happens If the Scan Cannot Be Completed?
- What If You Cannot Lie Still or Have Tremors?
- What to Expect Immediately After the Scan
- Why Was My Scan Repeated or Extended on the Day?
- Why You Have to Wait an Hour After the Injection
- Your PET-CT Scan Day: What Happens, Step by Step
Your next step
Talk to an oncologist about your scan
Your PET-CT report read by a senior oncologist, explained in plain language, with a free 45-minute consultation.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink anything other than water before a PET-CT scan?
No. Plain water is the only drink allowed during your fasting period. Tea, coffee, milk, juice, and all sweetened or carbonated drinks are not permitted, even if they are labelled sugar-free or calorie-free. Anything other than water can change the chemistry in your body in ways that affect how the radiotracer behaves. Your centre will confirm the exact fasting start time at booking — from that point, water only.
Can I take my regular medicines on the morning of the scan?
Ask your treating team before the day of the scan, not on the morning itself. Some medicines are fine to take with a sip of water; others need to be timed differently, particularly if you manage diabetes. Do not skip a medicine without guidance, and do not assume it is safe to take it as usual. Your oncologist or the imaging centre will give you a clear instruction when you confirm your appointment.
What happens if my blood sugar is too high when I arrive?
The technician checks your blood glucose when you arrive. If the level is above the range needed for accurate imaging, the scan will usually be rescheduled rather than attempted — proceeding with high glucose can produce images that mislead your team, so rescheduling is the right decision. If you are diabetic, tell your treating team well before the appointment so they can advise on how to manage your glucose on the day.
How long will the whole visit take?
Plan for the visit to take several hours. It includes check-in and a health review, a blood glucose test, the tracer injection, a waiting period while the tracer circulates, the scan itself, and a brief review before you leave. Your centre will give you a specific estimate when you book — use that to plan childcare, travel, and the rest of your day.
Is it safe to be near my family after the scan?
The radiotracer used in a PET-CT contains a small amount of radioactivity that clears from your body quickly. Close contact with healthy adults is generally fine soon after the scan. The caution applies to young children and pregnant women: stay at arm's length for the period your imaging centre advises, which the staff will explain before you leave. Travelling home by public transport does not require any special precautions.