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Cholesterol gone up on LCHF?

phil1966

Well-Known Member
Messages
661
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Just had a call from the Doctors receptionist saying she wants to speak to me about my cholesterol levels (this is my 3 month test since diagnosis). She didn't have my HbA1c results yet but did have my total cholesterol which has gone up from 5.1 to 6.4.
She didn't have the breakdown between HDL and LDL (hopefully the Dr will have that), but the overall increase is a bit worrying (unless I'm over-reacting!). My blood sugar figures are brilliant under LCHF so I really wouldn't consider stopping it but I just know I'm going to get a load of earache from the doc on Friday about my cholesterol so was hoping for some advice / ammo so I don't talk to her unprepared
 
Thanks for the reply - that's reassuring
 
If your HDL has gone up and triglycerides have come down I personally would not be concerned.
 
I'm a bit frustrated that they rang me up and only gave me only half the story (I'm aware how useless a figure total cholesterol is without the breakdown) and I really hope they have the full figures to hand on Friday.
Am I correct that it's the LDL figure and total/hdl ratio that are the important ones?
At diagnosis, my LDL was 2.9, non-HDL cholesterol was 3.8 and total/hdl was 4.01 so presumably I need to calculate them with my new results and then that will give me a better idea of where I am?
 
@phil1966, these are the target cholesterol levels that they want people with diabetes to aim for:

  • Your total cholesterol level should be below 4.0mmol/l.
  • LDL levels should be less than 2.0mmol/l.
  • HDL levels should be 1.0mmol/l or above in men and 1.2mmol/l or above in women.
  • Triglyceride levels should be 1.7mmol/l or less.


http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Monitoring/Testing/
 
The ratios are important, plus a high HDL with a low LDL and low trigs. Don't forget to ask for a print out.

Non HDL should be under 3.4
Trigs/HDL under 1.3
TC/HDL under 4
LDL under 2 is ideal
HDL 1.2 to 3.5
Trigs under 1.7
 
Thanks Bluetit and noblehead - that's really helpful!
 
phil1966, I watched the video that jack412 posted for you last week. I found it helpful.

I have two concerns as I weigh what's the best diet for me - (today is day 18 for me on the LCHF diet): does it improve blood lipid profiles and does it reduce inflammation? I don't have Stephen Phinney and Jeff Volek's book yet - (it's on its way) - but I did come across this lecture by Jeff Volek today that did a good job of answering my questions...


It's starts slow but builds. I found it reassuring. I hope you do too. Will be interested in hearing what you learn on Friday.
 
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I managed to get some more information out of the receptionist (who wasn't very happy giving me it, but did eventually), and it's not very good news:

My total Cholesterol is 6.3 and my non-HDL is 5.3. My HDL is 1.02

so, total cholesterol is up, non-HDL is up, HDL is down and ratio of total / HDL has gone up to over 6

Whatever way I look at them, they're pretty bad figures
 
Cheese, Mayo, Cream, eggs, bacon and steak mainly. I only have red meat once or twice a week - normally it's chicken breast (which then causes issues with protein )

What's shocked me is that my diet is now far, far healthier than it was before (when I had loads of carbs) -I've lost nearly 24kg, I eat platefuls of vegetables and salad and am only eating 1500 calories a day so I'm at a loss to explain such a large and sudden (in 3 months) increase in my cholesterol which has always been pretty much normal

I just know my doctor's going to prescribe statins but I'd rather tackle it without them if possible
 
I think that if you lose weight then initially your cholesterol results can be higher than you'd expect..hopefully they will offer you another test in 3 months and then you will have a better idea.
I think that it might be worth tying to reduce the saturated fat in your diet slightly - that's something I'm aiming to do as I don't eat butter or cream but do eat cheese and bacon. So maybe more monsaturated fats like olive oil and avocados. More oily fish. There's a thread on here so where by @donnellysdogs about this as she found her last test up as well.
 
Looking back through my food diary, I do think my saturated fats are too high (30-40g a day) - I've probably been guilty of focusing just on my BS levels but now I've got them under control I can look to alter other aspects of my diet

I've been eating more salmon recently and may try substituting kippers for bacon at breakfast
 
if you are losing weight ..it throws your lipids out they say
 

It all goes to show how different we all are. I eat all those dairy foods plus steak, bacon, eggs, sausages and so on. My sat fat can vary between 40 and 60g a day. I lost 27kg between February and November. Yet my lipids are better than they were when I was on statins (3 tests since I came off statins last May). However, I do eat 4 small tins of salmon a week, plus 2 other fish meals, and use rapeseed oil for cooking.

Our bodies are unique. No wonder there is so much contradictory research.
 

They certainly are!
I think my issue is my family genetics - my Dad had a quadruple bypass at the age of 42 (I'm pleased to say he's still alive and now in his mid 70s), his dad died of a heart attack, and both my maternal grandparents died of strokes (plus their parents and grandparents) so I'm right up there in the high risk category!

I'm hoping I can persuade the GP to let me try and sort this out through diet rather than statins but I'm not over-confident
 
Snap with me last week..and I posted about this in 1 year on posting. Not capable of doing a link to it...I was having just more cream and cheese. Got excellent suggestions and help from all here. Same happened to hubby (non diabetic). Totally removed the cream and cheese but doing more olive oil, avocado's and olives now...lost a further 4lb so far in 5 days and really didn't want to.
 


You might like to read this article on familial hyper cholesterolaemmia

How is familial hypercholesterolaemia diagnosed?
You may be diagnosed by chance if you go for a health screening check or you may notice fatty deposits on the skin or around the eyes.

Another member of your family may be diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolaemia or have a heart attack (myocardial infarction) before the age of 50, and you may be advised to have a check yourself.

You will be advised to have a blood test to check your cholesterol. Familial hypercholesterolaemia is suspected in adults if the total cholesterol is 7.5 mmol/L or greater, or the LDL cholesterol is 4.9 mmol/L or greater. In children (between the ages of 10 and 15) the levels are 6.7 mmol/L and 4.0 mmol/L respectively.

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/familial-hypercholesterolaemia
 
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