The only way to test for cholesterol is to do a blood test. Some pharmacies and even your doctor may have a “point-of-care” cholesterol testing machine. Your pharmacist or doctor will merely prick your finger, place a little drop of blood on a test strip, and insert it into the machine. Normally within about 5 minutes, you will get a result.
The other method is for your doctor to draw blood and send it off to the laboratory – it normally takes at least a day to get the results. If you have diabetes, you should have your cholesterol tested regularly, and if your levels are raised your doctor will prescribe cholesterol-lowering medication for you along with healthy eating and exercise.