Help! Hba1c down, cholesterol UP

[Blessedarethecheesemakers]

Hi all, I am really hoping you guys can help me. I'm a quite recently diagnosed T2 (6 months), diagnosed in the postnatal test after having GD in 2 recent pregnancies. I was diagnosed with an HBA1c of 5.9 in old money in October. Since then I went on a low carb diet (I've had some success on it in the past losing perhaps a stone a couple of times and then getting pregnant each time, low carb being the best hormone-regulator I've found). My blood tests in November showed an improved hba1c of 5.7 but cholesterol a bit raised at (I think) 4.8.

I recently went for a full set of blood tests and my hba1c is better, at 5.2, but my cholesterol is UP at 5.8. I have lost over 3 stone through low carbing over the past 6 months (my most successful weight loss effort EVER), feel fantastic and full of energy, feel like I could cheerfully eat this way forever and that I've finally found something that works and that doesn't leave me climbing the walls, and really don't want to change what I'm doing. My dark neck (which I gather is a sign of insulin resistance, that I've suffered from since being a teenager, to the extent that even my wedding dress had a high neck) is far lighter. I fit in plane seat belts with room to spare. I am really enjoying exploring clothes shops that I haven't been able to use since I was at college 20 years ago. All in all I'm so happy with how it's all going - except for the pesky cholesterol.

Has anyone else experienced this on low-carbing? Any advice you can offer? Many thanks in advance. I don't want to reduce dietary fat as a higher fat diet seems to work for me in every other way. I don't consciously add extra fat to meals (not s bulletproof coffee person) but I do like cooking with butter, cream in my morning coffee, and cheese hence my username.

 

[kateincornwall]

I`m sure someone will be along to advise you better than I can, but its the split in the cholesterol that matters , the good and the bad should be given to you and not just the whole number . To be honest , I don't think your cholesterol is massively high, my whole number is 6.2 despite taking the dreaded statins for years, but I`m not going to stress about it .

 

[sanguine]

I wouldn't worry at all about 5.8, but what's more important are the HDL-C and triglyceride numbers - do you have those to hand?

(My total cholesterol was 6.9 at T2 diagnosis, went down to 6.0 and then up to 6.1 - do I care? Not in the least because my lipid ratios are good).

 

[Blessedarethecheesemakers]

Ah, I don't have the breakdown to hand, but I forgot to say that the Dr did say it was the "bad" cholesterol that was up. I know size of the particles is relevant but I doubt that that information is available. She did say I had small blood cells but I think that was in relation to an analysis of whether or not my iron is low (it's not. I just have small blood cells).

 

[AndBreathe]

Hi all, I am really hoping you guys can help me. I'm a quite recently diagnosed T2 (6 months), diagnosed in the postnatal test after having GD in 2 recent pregnancies. I was diagnosed with an HBA1c of 5.9 in old money in October. Since then I went on a low carb diet (I've had some success on it in the past losing perhaps a stone a couple of times and then getting pregnant each time, low carb being the best hormone-regulator I've found). My blood tests in November showed an improved hba1c of 5.7 but cholesterol a bit raised at (I think) 4.8.

I recently went for a full set of blood tests and my hba1c is better, at 5.2, but my cholesterol is UP at 5.8. I have lost over 3 stone through low carbing over the past 6 months (my most successful weight loss effort EVER), feel fantastic and full of energy, feel like I could cheerfully eat this way forever and that I've finally found something that works and that doesn't leave me climbing the walls, and really don't want to change what I'm doing. My dark neck (which I gather is a sign of insulin resistance, that I've suffered from since being a teenager, to the extent that even my wedding dress had a high neck) is far lighter. I fit in plane seat belts with room to spare. I am really enjoying exploring clothes shops that I haven't been able to use since I was at college 20 years ago. All in all I'm so happy with how it's all going - except for the pesky cholesterol.

Has anyone else experienced this on low-carbing? Any advice you can offer? Many thanks in advance. I don't want to reduce dietary fat as a higher fat diet seems to work for me in every other way. I don't consciously add extra fat to meals (not s bulletproof coffee person) but I do like cooking with butter, cream in my morning coffee, and cheese hence my username.

My lipids are a bit of a work in progress since diagnosis, if all you look at are the totals. The breakdown tells a different story, for me. I'd suggest before you invest too much head space on this you get the breakdown of your numbers. They're critical.

Then, in the light of that information, watch the wonderful Professor Sikaris YouTube video:

Then, have a little think, and review your original thoughts.

I'll be having a further blood panel some time next week, then I'll consider my own next steps. My GP admits she is swayed by the totals, and doesn't understand the implications of the breakdowns too well (I like honesty), so is keen to refer me to a lipid specialist, for a discussion. When overseas, as I am now, I eat less dairy than I do in UK, mainly due to availability and quality, and I will be interested to see what impact this has on my numbers, and compare with my historic data from my last long trip. I pretty much always have bloods done just before leaving UK, the within a few days of returning, so it's fair data, usually 3-4 months apart.

Some people also find their lipids appear to get worse, then better on LCHF. This is thought to be a manifestation of defeating the liver, but I don't have a link to hand to back that statement up, apologies.

I know that post turned into a me, me, me post from me, but trying to demonstrate your circumstances are not completely alien.

Let us know what you find on the breakdowns.

 

[jack412]

losing weight will throw your cholesterol out too
http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2012/06/i-lost-weight-and-my-cholesterol-went-up/

 

[Blessedarethecheesemakers]

Thanks @AndBreathe - I'll ring up and see if I can get the breakdowns from the surgery. It is very helpful to know about your experiences.

 

[Blessedarethecheesemakers]

That is a very interesting link @jack412 - thanks so much for posting it. I'd never thought of it this way but it is true that I kind of am getting a higher proportion of my calorie needs via (my own) saturated fat.

 

[Blessedarethecheesemakers]

Right! Hopefully some more helpful info:

Total cholesterol: 5.8
HDL: 1.5
LDL: 3.9
Serum triglycerides: 0.9
Total chol/HDL ratio: 3.87.

What do we think?

 

[sanguine]

And your trigs/HDL is 0.6.

I'd be very pleased with that, well done.

 

[Blessedarethecheesemakers]

Thanks @sanguine - what's the significance of the trigs/HDL?

 

[donnellysdogs]

Have you got your previous levels?

 

[Blessedarethecheesemakers]

Hi @donnellysdogs, I don't remember them in full. I remember the total being perhaps 4.8? And the HDL was 1.1.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Mine and hubbies also went in wromg direction. I changed to having some cheese and cream in 2 coffees a day. Since removing and adding in avocado and olives and olive oil, home made dressing and scrapes of feta my cholestesterol HDL is now the best its been and my trigs have reduced back down to what they've always been. 0.6. My LDL I'm sure has improved a little too.
Collected blood test form today for hubby but due to the huge bad direction he went in he decided he would take GP's advice and take statins but to also change to avocado etc.
@iHs I believe also experienced figures going in wrong direction.

 

[AndBreathe]

Thanks @sanguine - what's the significance of the trigs/HDL?

Please watch the YouTube video I linked in my initial post - it tells you everything you need to know. But, I'd be happy with those numbers.

 

[Brunneria]

Hi, people have said it all.

Significant weight loss (congrats by the way) will send your cholesterol up.
The suggestion is to wait for several months after the weight loss is over, before assuming that your cholesterol has settled to the new level.

And with Trigs of 0.9 I would like to congratulate you on your non-fatty liver.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Trigs do not necessarily indicate a non fatty liver...
My trigs were always 0.6 and I have the start of a non alchohol fatty liver... Only discovered when they did a full scan on me.. I don't think it is necessarily good to inform people that having low trigs stops have a fatty liver... I only have a shared bottle of wine a week (2glasses total) and Gp said to me it was because of being a longterm diabetic...
At 0.6 trigs constantly he had no idea or thoughts on fatty liver.. The scan was done on my whole stomach due to very high B12....

 

[Blessedarethecheesemakers]

@AndBreathe - I've watched the video now. And everything has fallen into place, and I am no longer worried about my cholesterol. thanks so much for posting it.

@Brunneria thank you for your comment - now that I've watched the video I too am very happy with my 0.9 trigs.

 

[Blessedarethecheesemakers]

@donnellysdogs thank you too for your contributions - it is useful to hear different perspectives.

 

[jack412]

Trigs do not necessarily indicate a non fatty liver...
My trigs were always 0.6 and I have the start of a non alchohol fatty liver... Only discovered when they did a full scan on me.. I don't think it is necessarily good to inform people that having low trigs stops have a fatty liver... I only have a shared bottle of wine a week (2glasses total) and Gp said to me it was because of being a longterm diabetic...
At 0.6 trigs constantly he had no idea or thoughts on fatty liver.. The scan was done on my whole stomach due to very high B12....

trigs by themselves is probably better as a LDL particle size indicator

for a fatty liver..trigs is one of the indicators, but you need the liver function and others for a fuller picture with a blood test.. the scan is better, but that wouldn't be normally given, unless the blood test throws up something