• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Cholesterol levels

smartlady

smartlady

Well-Known Member
Messages
220
Location
Norwich
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all

Just got the results for my cholesterol test. Have to admit I have no idea if they good or bad. Could some one tell me how good/bad they are & what I need to do to make them better?

I have been on Simvastatin for years, but last month the doctor told me to stop taking them & she would review them after we got the results. She's now on holiday for a month.

In June total cholesterol was 4.1.

Last weeks test has come back as

chol 4.7
trigs 1.40
HDL 1.19
LDL 2.9
ratio 3.9

creatine kinase 22u/L

Hope somebody can decipher these for me

Thank you

Smartie xx
 
Hi,

For diabetics the NHS like to see:
Total 3 to 4
Triglycerides under 1.7
HDL above 1.2
LDL under 2
TC/HDL ratio under 4

No idea what the creatine kinase is!
 
Is that all diabetics Bluetit? Does it include BG-controlled ones?
 
Thanks Blue very helpful. So total needs to come down. Trigs ok. HDL almost there. LDL bad. Ratio just ok. I think the creatine thing is for muscle damage?
Any ideas on how I can improve LDL & total please?

Thank you

Smartie xx
 
Wow thank you cherub. Results say range should be 55.0 to 170.00~ at 22 I've got the note "below low reference limit". Now wondering if that low is good or bad??!! Always some thing else to worry me lol.
However I'll park that til I see my doctor & concentrate on trying to sort out chol.

Thanks

Smartie xx
 
smartlady said:
Thanks Blue very helpful. So total needs to come down. Trigs ok. HDL almost there. LDL bad. Ratio just ok. I think the creatine thing is for muscle damage?
Any ideas on how I can improve LDL & total please?

Thank you

Smartie xx
Click to expand...

I think the LDL and Trigs can be reduced by low carb diets and exercise.
There are 2 other ratios that help, too. The Trigs/HDL ratio (divide trigs by HDL. 2 or less is considered ideal. 4 is considered high. The other is the Non-HDL. (Total minus HDL) Needs to be under 4 and as low as possible.
 
I already lower carb, about 80 a day. Cannot exercise due to knackered knees, back & wrists. Due to agoraphobia most days cannot leave flat even for a gentle stroll.

Any ideas any one please?

Thanks

Smartie xx
 
I reacted badly to statins with high creatine kinase levels (not checked until a year after prescription !) so I came off them and my cholesterol went back up. I was told by an Asian doctor that if I didn't want statins then I could do just as well be taking either/both Benecol and a clove of raw garlic daily. He pointed out that the garlic should be chopped finely and swallowed with milk (I swallow it with a Benecol drink). I must admit the results were fantastic, my cholesterol dropped dramatically and the ratios improved too. I also low-carb and can now eat all the 'bad stuff' such a cheese, cream, butter, fatty meat without any negative effect on my cholesterol levels.
 
Thank you Olive that's really helpful. I'll see what doctor says when she's back from her hols, & if still no statins I'll give the garlic & Benecol a go

Smartie xx
 
Wow great to know there is an alternative to statins
 
just to add... to avoid garlic breath - DONT CHEW THE GARLIC ! - the garlic has to be distressed to release the active chemical (can't remember its name) hence the chopping, but must be swallowed without chewing.
My diabetes nurse is so impressed with my numbers that she is going to get her high=cholesterol brother in law to try it.
I hope it works as well for you as for me.
 
Back
Top