Blood test results - advised to take a statin

[IanBish]

I spoke to the surgery pharmacist today. Regarding my HbA1c result, he said to keep doing what I'm doing, but recommended Atorvastatin. Here are the numbers he gave me:

Total cholesterol	6.7
Triglycerides	2.2
HDL	1.0
Non-HDL	5.7
HbA1c	37

I just wondered what people think?

 

[zand]

2 questions.
Was this a fasting test? ( I always fast for my cholesterol tests even though they tell me not to )
Have you lost weight recently?
Both of these can put up trigs temporarily.

And well done on your HbA1c result!

 

[IanBish]

It wasn't, but I probably fasted (I normally do). And yes, I have lost weight (nearly 4st) recently. Thank you for the comment on my HbA1c - I was pleased with that.

 

[Rachox]

Well done on your non diabetic HbA1c result! Do bear in mind when considering what to do that statins can raise blood sugars.

 

[shelley262]

I spoke to the surgery pharmacist today. Regarding my HbA1c result, he said to keep doing what I'm doing, but recommended Atorvastatin. Here are the numbers he gave me:

Total cholesterol	6.7
Triglycerides	2.2
HDL	1.0
Non-HDL	5.7
HbA1c	37

I just wondered what people think?

Congratulations on your hba1c really well done. 're cholesterol given that you have lost so much weight recently you could consider delaying until weight loss is settled and asking for a review at your next test in six months. Meanwhile you could do research into statins to see if they are right for you. I ask for a fasted (12 hours water only fast) full lipid panel which will give you a full picture of your lipids to help you make a decision. I am personally statin intolerant - they caused me too much muscle pain so I couldn't be active as I wanted to be.

 

[ianf0ster]

Congrats on your HbA1C - that's a really good number.
As to the other numbers, your HDl is a bit low (better would be a little under 2.0) and as has been mentioned your Triglycerides are rather high, though this may well be due to being in a weight loss phase.
Mine are almost the opposite to yours HDL 2.07, Trigs 1.06

 

[IanBish]

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to take a statin, but would like to improve my numbers by lifestyle changes only. I do smoke and drink red wine.

Apart from waiting for my weight loss to settle down, what would be the other factors which would help?

 

[MrsA2]

I spoke to the surgery pharmacist today. Regarding my HbA1c result, he said to keep doing what I'm doing, but recommended Atorvastatin. Here are the numbers he gave me:

Total cholesterol	6.7
Triglycerides	2.2
HDL	1.0
Non-HDL	5.7
HbA1c	37

I just wondered what people think?

I'm reading "The Clot Thickens " by Dr Malcolm Kendrick
All about cholesterol, ldl and ststins and the theories behind. Well worth a read
Then, at least, you could make an informed decision

 

[LivingLightly]

Congratulations @IanBish on lowering your BG levels from an HbA1c result that was well into diabetes territory, down to 37 mmol/mol in less than a year; that's some accomplishment.

We're all different, but statins can raise blood glucose levels and may cause other undesirable side effects. Our practice nurse is strident about recommending statins. My husband, who is not diabetic but has a family history of heart disease, takes them without ill effects. A diabetic with a strong family history of coronary heart disease, I've tried two different brands, but experienced unacceptable side effects, so both were discontinued. I declined the trial of a third brand.

I'd be inclined to defer your decision on statins until your next review in 4 months time. Book an early morning blood test and go fasted. If the blood work then confirms your type 2 diabetes is in remission, your lipid profile is in good order and your weight remains steady, then you may want to reconsider.

Q. Apart from waiting for weight loss to settle down, other factors which would help?
A. Give up smoking!

Thanks for sharing. Your success with blood glucose control and weight management will encourage newly-diagnosed members to do all they can to reduce their BG levels and lose weight, if necessary.

 

[IanBish]

I'm reading "The Clot Thickens " by Dr Malcolm Kendrick
All about cholesterol, ldl and ststins and the theories behind. Well worth a read
Then, at least, you could make an informed decision

Thank you. That could well be my next Audible book.

Congratulations @IanBish on lowering your BG levels from an HbA1c result that was well into diabetes territory, down to 37 mmol/mol in less than a year; that's some accomplishment.

Q. Apart from waiting for weight loss to settle down, other factors which would help?
A. Give up smoking!

Thanks for sharing. Your success with blood glucose control and weight management will encourage newly-diagnosed members to do all they can to reduce their BG levels and lose weight, if necessary.

Thank you. I mentioned my HbA1c result already, but thanks anyway. I know, I know... about the smoking. I've been thinking about stopping for a while now. I have a long weekend away at the seaside tomorrow, and when I come back, I'll give it a good go!

 

[AndBreathe]

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to take a statin, but would like to improve my numbers by lifestyle changes only. I do smoke and drink red wine.

Apart from waiting for my weight loss to settle down, what would be the other factors which would help?

Stop smoking - not specifically for statin, but for heart and general health.

 

[shelley262]

@IanBish Listened to this today very thought provoking
@MrsA2 you may be interested in this too

 

[KennyA]

I spoke to the surgery pharmacist today. Regarding my HbA1c result, he said to keep doing what I'm doing, but recommended Atorvastatin. Here are the numbers he gave me:

Total cholesterol	6.7
Triglycerides	2.2
HDL	1.0
Non-HDL	5.7
HbA1c	37

I just wondered what people think?

Great "below normal" result on the HbA1c. Not long at all, was it?

Your total calculated figure is much the same as mine (fasted). If I'm tested unfasted it will go up a point or two. Mine has been in the mid to high sixes for thirty years - it used to be called normal, but then overnight became high.

I have no doubt whatsoever that statins would lower my cholesterol figures, but I have considerable doubt about whether my cholesterol actually needs to be lowered. If you're looking to make general health improvements, stopping smoking would pay off much better than anything else.

And another vote for Malcolm Kendrick.

 

[Paul_]

Hey Ian, congratulations on the hba1c result, that's amazing! Having talked with you quite a bit on here, I'm so pleased to see you've achieved this.

For reference, my last cholesterol results in November were as follows:

My DN recommended I start on a statin. Current NHS guidelines state "The NHS recommends the use of statins for primary prevention in people with Type 2 Diabetes that have a risk of having a Cardiovascular Event of greater than 10 % over the next 10 years. This risk is calculated by your Healthcare Practitioner and helps you to make your decision." From what I can tell, this essentially means most T2D patients are automatically recommended to be on a statin. Therefore, your results are definitely in ranges which would see that as the textbook recommendation. I declined to start on a statin, at that point I'd lost a significant amount of weight (which can send your cholesterol wonky, even my nurse agreed), I've lost more since then too (over 7 stone since diagnosis now), so I've made peace with my decision on the basis that weight loss will have (and has already had) significant benefits for a number of my health conditions and I don't want potential statin side effects to jeopardise that progress.

I'm not medically qualified though and I won't for a single second claim to know which of the two prominent theories on cholesterol are correct. At the end of the day, we need to decide what's right for us, based on the information we have to hand and our understanding of it.

In short, it's not an easy decision. Smoking is a massive risk factor, so as an ex-smoker myself (and an enthusiastic smoker back in my day), I'd possibly recommend tackling that whichever way you decide when it comes to statins.

Edit - Just in case you think you quitting is impossible, here's a post I made previously about my experience - https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/ive-been-very-very-very-stupid.200049/post-2650519

 

[IanBish]

Great "below normal" result on the HbA1c. Not long at all, was it?

Thanks, Kenny. It wasn't, no. It would have been interesting to know what my result would have been three months after diagnosis. I suspect it would have dropped quite a bit from the initial figure.

If you're looking to make general health improvements, stopping smoking would pay off much better than anything else.

And another vote for Malcolm Kendrick.

I hear you, and it will be done. I'm currently "reading" The Clot Thickens at the moment.

Hey Ian, congratulations on the hba1c result, that's amazing! Having talked with you quite a bit on here, I'm so pleased to see you've achieved this.

In short, it's not an easy decision. Smoking is a massive risk factor, so as an ex-smoker myself (and an enthusiastic smoker back in my day), I'd possibly recommend tackling that whichever way you decide when it comes to statins.

Edit - Just in case you think you quitting is impossible, here's a post I made previously about my experience - https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/ive-been-very-very-very-stupid.200049/post-2650519

Thanks, Paul. I know the time has come to stop, and I'll read the thread you mentioned.

 

[Lupf]

Let me add my congratulations on lowering your HbA1c. well done @IanBish

I noted that my Cholesterol numbers have been coming down with time, so I definitely wouldn't rush a decision.

I've just posted a link regarding statins that I posted some time ago,
to a question by @Mr Hairyman, see

Off Statin or not?

Hi all. Was diagnosed with T2D in May 23 with a HbA1c of 80. Dropped Carbs and sugars. Took up exercise, lost 45lbs Have had 3 subsequent tests, with scores of 36, 34 and 34 again just last week. Have gone from 2000mg of Metformin down to 500g. I asked the nurse if I could come off it following...

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