Cholesterol advice please

[Energize]

Prem51 and others, including myself, who haven't come across EVOO before

EVOO = Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Thanks to Mr Google

 

[Energize]

My surgery won't do 'fasting Cholestrol' blood tests either. The GP told me it was because there was 'no need to/ made no difference'!!! I've also heard, from another source but can't remember where/who that says that Fasting Cholestrol test costs more!!! So, I tend to believe that cost is the factor

Also, not long ago, when I was talking with my GP, I mentioned aboiut meters for Type 2s and that the problem was the cost of them. Well, he leaned right back in his chair, laughed and said cost had nothing to do with it!!! What a load of tosh!!!

How can one believe and trust a doctor when they try to cover up. I'd have much more trust if they were open and transparent.

 

[Kristin251]

Thanks @Kristin251 I will make more effort to eat avocadoes, fish and nuts.
What is Evoo?

Yes. Evoo is extra virgin olive oil.
A lot of times when HDL is high and LDL is also high the LDL particals are the light and fluffy ones that are heart protective rather than the small density ones that clog your arteries. There is a test that can be done but it sure looks like you have improved a lot.

 

[Oldvatr]

My surgery won't do 'fasting Cholestrol' blood tests either. The GP told me it was because there was 'no need to/ made no difference'!!! I've also heard, from another source but can't remember where/who that says that Fasting Cholestrol test costs more!!! So, I tend to believe that cost is the factor

Also, not long ago, when I was talking with my GP, I mentioned aboiut meters for Type 2s and that the problem was the cost of them. Well, he leaned right back in his chair, laughed and said cost had nothing to do with it!!! What a load of tosh!!!

How can one believe and trust a doctor when they try to cover up. I'd have much more trust if they were open and transparent.

Yes its mainly cost but also time. PWD are not the only patients who need fasting tests, and so there tends to be high demand for the morning sessions., Also by the old model of cholesterol, trigs were not important, TC rules OK
I begged my GP for a fasting full lipid panel, and I think it was the HF componenet of LCHF that frightened the whatever out of him. The idea of increasing sat fat does not sit well with Eatwell#2 or HCLF,

 

[Oldvatr]

Yes. Evoo is extra virgin olive oil.
A lot of times when HDL is high and LDL is also high the LDL particals are the light and fluffy ones that are heart protective rather than the small density ones that clog your arteries. There is a test that can be done but it sure looks like you have improved a lot.

I believe the test for fluffy LDL requires a Nuclear Resonance Scanner, and the NHS does not have one of those to hand, so the nearest is probably USA or Israel. We must not forget that sdLDL is a relatively new discovery that is not yet covered by text books in Med school. We saw this when we were quoted sections of the latest (2015) endocrinology texbook used in the US.

 

[AtkinsMo]

You could always just fast anyway, personally, whatever the time of my blood test, I could fast for the 24 hours or whatever. They normally assign first appointments of the day for 'fasting blood tests' - but you can choose to fast whenever.

 

[Actaeon70]

Why does your doctor not take a fasting blood test for diabetics?
My GP always wants a fasting blood test, except for the 3 month retest after diagnosis.
The blood test is taken by a visiting phlebotemist (don't know how to spell that!), a nurse who specialises in blood testing so they must know it's ok for a diabetic to take a fasting blood test.

My surgery no longer does fasting tests for diabetics. They used to, but apparently they now use a different test that doesn't require fasting. (Ironically, the blood tests they perform for my serious mental illness review didn't used to require fasting, but now they do. So I still have to fast anyway).

 

[Oldvatr]

You could always just fast anyway, personally, whatever the time of my blood test, I could fast for the 24 hours or whatever. They normally assign first appointments of the day for 'fasting blood tests' - but you can choose to fast whenever.

But you don't get the full lipid panel unless it is written down in the dovtor's request. A non fasting test nowadays is TC and possibly HDL but thats generally it. My surgery only does a TC by default.

 

[PNJB]

Hopefully these "Targets" will clarify.

Target
Haemoglobin A1C (IFCC) 20 - 42
Serum Cholesterol Level (XE2eD) < 4
Serum HDL Cholesterol Level (44P5) > 1.6
Serum Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (XaEUq) < 4
Serum Trigliceride Levels (XE2q9) 0.3 - 1.8
Serum LDL Cholesterol Level (44P6) < 2
Serum Non Hi Density Cholesterol (XabE1)
Serum Albumin Level (Xe2eA) 35.0 - 50.0
Serum Total Bilirubin Level (XaERu) 0.0 - 20.0
Serum Alkaline Phosphase Level (XE2x) 30.0 - 130.0
Serum Alanine Aminotransferase (xaLJx) 7.0 - 40.0
Serum TSH Level (XaELV) 0.35 - 5.5
Serum Free T4 Level (XaERr) 10 - 19.8
Serum Sodium Level (Xe2q0) 133 -146
Serum Potassium (XE2pz) 3.5 - 5.3
Serum Creatinine (XE2q5) 62 - 115
MDRD GFR
Urine Microalbumin < 5.0 mg/L
Urine Creatinine
Urine Albumin / Creatinine Ratio
Urine Protein

 

[Dark Horse]

My surgery won't do 'fasting Cholestrol' blood tests either. The GP told me it was because there was 'no need to/ made no difference'!!! I've also heard, from another source but can't remember where/who that says that Fasting Cholestrol test costs more!!! So, I tend to believe that cost is the factor

Also, not long ago, when I was talking with my GP, I mentioned aboiut meters for Type 2s and that the problem was the cost of them. Well, he leaned right back in his chair, laughed and said cost had nothing to do with it!!! What a load of tosh!!!

How can one believe and trust a doctor when they try to cover up. I'd have much more trust if they were open and transparent.

This is a quote from http://labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/cholesterol/tab/sample/
"No fasting is needed for a cholesterol test. In the past, a full lipid profile (which includes cholesterol) did require fasting, but this changed in 2014, and even the full lipid profile no longer requires fasting. On the other hand, there may be circumstances when fasting is still required, so you should follow instructions given by your doctor."

The tests performed on fasting and non-fasting samples are identical so there is no difference in cost.

 

[LucySW]

This is a quote from http://labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/cholesterol/tab/sample/
"No fasting is needed for a cholesterol test. In the past, a full lipid profile (which includes cholesterol) did require fasting, but this changed in 2014, and even the full lipid profile no longer requires fasting. On the other hand, there may be circumstances when fasting is still required, so you should follow instructions given by your doctor."

The tests performed on fasting and non-fasting samples are identical so there is no difference in cost.

Correct. If you eat a high fat diet, though, fat just eaten and not yet processed can mask true lipid numbers. So I fast.

 

[Enclave]

Why does your doctor not take a fasting blood test for diabetics?
My GP always wants a fasting blood test, except for the 3 month retest after diagnosis.
The blood test is taken by a visiting phlebotemist (don't know how to spell that!), a nurse who specialises in blood testing so they must know it's ok for a diabetic to take a fasting blood test.

They insist that as I am diabetic I cannot have any fasting tests ... Not over bothered as I refuse to go on statins again ..

 

[Enclave]

You could always just fast anyway, personally, whatever the time of my blood test, I could fast for the 24 hours or whatever. They normally assign first appointments of the day for 'fasting blood tests' - but you can choose to fast whenever.

I take medication for my heart failure and it need to be with food in the morning .. not willing to risk not taking them just for a late afternoon blood test !!

 

[Daibell]

My levels are ok to good for cholesterol .. but my Drs will not take a fasting blood test for any diabetics .. and as my appointments are for late afternoon now for blood tests I do have a non fasting blood test, and my HFN says my cholesterol numbers are good for non fasting ... is your test fasting or non fasting ?

Hi. I choose to have my bloods taken at the local hospital and go early morning so it becomes a fasting test anyway which makes the lipids readings more useful

 

[Prem51]

Well I saw my GP this morning. She was pleased with my HbA1c results. I told her it was because I been following a LCHF diet. She didn't seem to have heard about that and asked if it was the same as a Paleao Diet. I explained that it meant eating more fat for energy as I had reduced carbs.
She was concerned about my higher overall cholesterol level of 6.1 though my HDL was better than last year.. I said I had read that a higher cholesterol level for men over 65 was better than a low level, but she said it was too high. She did agree that the ratios were ok.
She suggested that I cut down on the fats from butter, cheese and cream, and increase fats from avocadoes, oily fish and meat instead, which I said I would. Though I think I will still be having some cheese with my Merlot at the weekend.
So I will be having another fasting blood test in 6 months time, instead of 12 months, to see how my cholesterol levels are going, which is good.

 

[Daphne917]

Well I saw my GP this morning. She was pleased with my HbA1c results. I told her it was because I been following a LCHF diet. She didn't seem to have heard about that and asked if it was the same as a Paleao Diet. I explained that it meant eating more fat for energy as I had reduced carbs.
She was concerned about my higher overall cholesterol level of 6.1 though my HDL was better than last year.. I said I had read that a higher cholesterol level for men over 65 was better than a low level, but she said it was too high. She did agree that the ratios were ok.
She suggested that I cut down on the fats from butter, cheese and cream, and increase fats from avocadoes, oily fish and meat instead, which I said I would. Though I think I will still be having some cheese with my Merlot at the weekend.
So I will be having another fasting blood test in 6 months time, instead of 12 months, to see how my cholesterol levels are going, which is good.

Hi @Prem51 my cholesterol results have risen as well from 5.1 to 5.5 and my HDL is 1.7, LDL 3.1 and Triglycerides 0.7 and, after the obligatory statins talk and my refusal to take them, my DN suggested that I try plant sterols and have another test in 3 months time.