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Cholesterol Levels

masonbason63

Well-Known Member
When I have blood tests for my cholesterol levels they've always given me just one reading and say that's fine, I've noticed on here people talk about different type of levels that you should ask the results of as there's good and bad so I'm led to believe. Could someone explain these so I can ask when I see docs again and not just nod in agreement, sorry if I'm going over old question again.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Your just getting your total cholesterol results which doesn't mean much in itself, next time you book to have your bloods taken ask for a Fasting Lipid Breakdown Test, it does means not eating for the previous 10-12 hours and refraining from alcohol for a few days leading up to the test.

There's an explanation here about lipid breakdowns:

http://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/high-cholesterol.aspx

These are the target cholesterol levels that they want people with diabetes to be aiming 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.
 
You could also ask for a print out of your previous blood results. The receptionist should be able to do this for you. You are entitled to them.
 
You could also ask for a print out of your previous blood results. The receptionist should be able to do this for you. You are entitled to them.

I would imagine if they've just been requesting tests for his TC they won't have a breakdown, might be wrong but normally they do insist on a fasting for a full-lipid breakdown.
 
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