Low carb and Statins

Charis1213

Well-Known Member
Messages
513
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Personally i wouldn't take statins ive seen the affects they have on my dad . My cholesterol is 7.3 I keep getting offered statins and i keep refusing , like someone quoted on here the other night , They're not getting their hands on my cholesterol .

But its really down to you and what you feel is right , but there's a lot of threads on here about cholesterol and statins and they might help you to decide , good luck and please let us know .
 

KK123

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,967
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
One of the questions on the Q-Risk is about smoking. What I found interesting is if you tick "non smoker" and "T2 diabetic" the risk is greater than if you tick you are a smoker but are not diabetic. Take diabetic out of it completely, and at least in my case, my risk halves.

It's weird isn't it?, take diabetes out of it and my heart age goes back to 57 (which is what I am), put it back in and suddenly I'm 72!, all regardless of the actual physical state I am in (excellent if I say so myself) :)
 

KK123

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,967
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Personally i wouldn't take statins ive seen the affects they have on my dad . My cholesterol is 7.3 I keep getting offered statins and i keep refusing , like someone quoted on here the other night , They're not getting their hands on my cholesterol .

But its really down to you and what you feel is right , but there's a lot of threads on here about cholesterol and statins and they might help you to decide , good luck and please let us know .

I agree, mine is 7.2 (HDL 2.45, Trigs 0.5). I went to see a Lipid Consultant, he did some tests and told me (via a letter) I had a 'lipoprotein A' reading that was twice the 'average', that apparently is another 'risk' but I say well surely my body is compensating for not being 'average'! I was satisfied in a way because he said that reading would be from birth so nothing to do with what I ate (the opposite of my GP telling me to go low fat even though I already was as well as low carb). I still wonder about the so called 'average' readings and how they deem what is average anyway. There must be so many individuals who are genetically just a bit different? Does that mean they are always 'ill' or flawed and therefore should be put on drugs just in case?
 
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Bluetit1802

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25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
I agree, mine is 7.2 (HDL 2.45, Trigs 0.5). I went to see a Lipid Consultant, he did some tests and told me I had a 'lipoprotein A' reading that was twice the 'average', that apparently is another 'risk' but I say well surely my body is compensating for not being 'average'! I was satisfied in a way because he said that reading would be from birth so nothing to do with what I ate (the opposite of my GP telling me to go low fat even though I already was as well as low carb). I still wonder about the so called 'average' readings and how they deem what is average anyway. There must be so many individuals who are genetically just a bit different? Does that mean they are always 'ill' or flawed and therefore should be put on drugs just in case?

What did he have to say about your excellent HDL and trigs? My GP told me they don't look at trigs at all.
 
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Bluetit1802

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25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
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Nothing!, nothing at all! I pointed them out and he said that 'LDL was a risk in and of itself'.

So no mention of the LDL particle sizes, when the good large fluffy ones and the nasty small ones decrease can increase as your trigs decrease ? Surely he could have given you an LDL particle test.
 
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Mr_Pot

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,573
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
If that is the level of detail from a Lipid Consultant it is not surprising the average GP doesn't know very much about it.
 

KK123

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,967
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
So no mention of the LDL particle sizes, when the good large fluffy ones and the nasty small ones decrease can increase as your trigs decrease ? Surely he could have given you an LDL particle test.

Nope. I do have another appointment in Jan at which he will probably discuss the results, my first appointment was when he took the tests so my first chance to discuss will be in Jan (almost afraid to go back because I didn't take the statins!). I will ask for an LDL particle test and if he says no, I might pay for a test myself if available. He did refer me to a group of Lipid Nurses that are going around the UK testing certain genes for FH and so on. I don't think I fit the FH profile (and neither did he) but he said it was probably all to do with the genes from both parents merging to give me high cholesterol...or words to that effect. I do know my trigs have always been low and previous cholesterol levels over the years have tended to hover between 5 and 8. Many thanks for your input Bluetit. I am very grateful for all of the referrals my GP's and Consultants have made though, I'm looked after very well in that regard but am frustrated by how they interpret the results and seem to give the same one word answer....STATINS. x
 
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Ann1982

Well-Known Member
Messages
432
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Just over a year ago I went on to the LCHF diet and lost about 2.5 stone.
At a recent medical review I was told my sugar and BP were fine but because of my age I should go on Statins. I have put on a little weight and thought I would revisit the LCHF diet. I have been on the LCHF for just over 2 weeks but have not lost any weight at all. Do Statins upset the workings of this diet? any comments or advice appreciated.
I do have a heart murmur but am on the very lowest dose of statin for “protection” but my cholesterol is 3.1!
 

Bluetit1802

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Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
I do have a heart murmur but am on the very lowest dose of statin for “protection” but my cholesterol is 3.1!


and what is the breakdown? HDL, LDL and triglycerides? The total is meaningless without these components.
 

richf

Active Member
Messages
39
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Dislikes
rainy days
Update -- so I went to the doctors to get my cholesterol levels from my last tests. I was told they were "borderline" but borderline to what? what bench mark? Some discussion but the the bottom line is I am having a cholesterol test again immediately after Christmas - which I think is good as if I indulge a little at Christmas it will show my worst. I actually have an appointment with doctor (not a telephone consultation which might just as well be a recorded message) a couple of days later to get the result and discuss my coming off the statins. After reading the forum information given, and referenced, I wish I had never started taking them all be it if only for a few months. My only reservations at the moment is can I just stop taking them or do you have to reduce the statin over a short period of time? Any info on this really appreciated.
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Update -- so I went to the doctors to get my cholesterol levels from my last tests. I was told they were "borderline" but borderline to what? what bench mark? Some discussion but the the bottom line is I am having a cholesterol test again immediately after Christmas - which I think is good as if I indulge a little at Christmas it will show my worst. I actually have an appointment with doctor (not a telephone consultation which might just as well be a recorded message) a couple of days later to get the result and discuss my coming off the statins. After reading the forum information given, and referenced, I wish I had never started taking them all be it if only for a few months. My only reservations at the moment is can I just stop taking them or do you have to reduce the statin over a short period of time? Any info on this really appreciated.

Did you get the breakdown of your cholesterol? You need the HDL, LDL and triglycerides. I have no idea what borderline means. There is no borderline. If you ring the receptionist and ask for a print out of your test results, you will be able to see for yourself, and if you don't understand them we will help you.

You can just stop them if that is how you feel, but without knowing what the levels are it will be guess work.
 
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Flora123

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,078
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
That's what my GP said to me, that diabetics over 50 should go on statins (very low dose) as a preventative against cardio issues....

I’m 53 and it’s never been suggested to me. In fact my doc is very laid back about my whole diagnosis....thankfully!
 

Ponchu

Well-Known Member
Messages
292
Firstly, cholesterol has a protective effect in the presence of stressors, and is the start of an incredibly important pathway. Arbitrarily forcing it to drop is unlikely to have good consequences. Pregnenolone, progesterone, DHEA, testosterone, DHT, are all highly protective.

steroid-pathway_2_orig.jpg


SECOND, there is evidence to show that high cholesterol is protective against heart deaths:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20470020
"Conclusions. Participants with low serum total cholesterol seem to have a lower survival rate than participants with an elevated cholesterol level, irrespective of concomitant diseases or health status."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15066061
"Increases in cholesterol over time have beneficial associations in some older adults.
The role of cholesterol changes in the health of older individuals needs further exploration."

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/bad-cholesterol-may-have-bad-rap#2
"researchers discovered people with low levels of LDL cholesterol, or LDL-C, had the highest rates of death related to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States."


But the profits are lost.

Statins are scary.

I was prescribed them. I did not fill the prescription.
 

DavyPaul

Member
Messages
15
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
negative moaning people.
I can feel the rage welling up inside just thinking about the idea of someone being prescribed statins just because of an arbitrary age. Surely this doesn’t happen...does it??
It's what my gp did. He does this routinely if you're >50.