Thank you for the links @Pipp, will have a read. Already considering whether to pay for a CAC scan to see what is happening with my arteries. Hope that taking Magnesium, D3 and K2 may be helpful.There are lots of things to consider.
Age and gender, for example
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/statins-and-women
Though, some people have to consider this:
https://thefhfoundation.org/familial-hypercholesterolemia/what-is-familial-hypercholesterolemia
Serum Triglycerides 0.9
Serum HDL 1.9
Thank you for sharing your family history, I listened to a presentation yesterday and the guy said that the only reason he would prescribe statins was in the case of familial hypercholesterolemia. I understand that trigs usually rise with this. I am looking into this subject and want to ask the doc if he will request a LDL particle test or a CAC scan, I am not holding my breath though.@Debandez, there are reasons people are legitimately prescribed statins. To dismiss them outright could cause difficulties for some people. I would agree that mass prescribing for anyone with raised cholesterol and / or T2 is not the best practice, (in my opinion).
I would add that anyone who has been checked and found to have familial hypercholesterolaemia, which is a genetic trait, should not be discouraged from taking medication prescribed to lower cholesterol. This is important to mention, as I would not like anyone to feel intimidated into stopping or refusing thesemeds if they do have the condition.
I have this condition. Been on prescribed statins since I was diagnosed T2 15 years ago. Now in my mid 60s. All previous paternal generations in my family have had cardiac incidents, some fatal, from their 40s. I have not. I don’t like taking meds. I would like a heart attack much less.
Sorry mods for derail, I don’t think anyone was meant to be discussing statins, but thought it vital to make the distinction re familial hypercholesterolaemia.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informations...gazine/medical/familial-hypercholesterolaemia
LDL is a calculated number and can often be misrepresented when following a low carb diet as the calculations can be way off.
So, from posts I read on this board, can BG meter readings, therefore, BG numbers.
I think you'll find that BG meter readings measure something whereas LDL is a calculated number.
But @Ryhia may find this illuminating as may you @SaskiaKC are you still vegan by the way?
Hence the downer on "animal fats"
http://press.psprings.co.uk/ebm/july/ebm111413.pdf
Been checking prices for CAC scans and may pursue that route as an option but I intend to ask doc about tests. Doing as much re-reading as I can before my appointment on Tuesday.If you think (as I and many experts do, although I'm no expert I freely admit ) that a major indicator of heart problems ahead is the Trig/HDL ratio then yours is near perfect. Anything sub 0.87 is deemed excellent and yours is 0.474 .
LDL is a calculated number and can often be misrepresented when following a low carb diet as the calculations can be way off.
You could, if your GP is very concerned, ask for a coronary artery calcium scan to look at actual plaque build up in your arteries. Whilst it is unlikely that you will get this on the NHS it is always a possibility so definitely worth asking for.
I'd seriously suggest doing a lot of reading around the subject before taking any drugs that interfere with some of the most basic functions of our brains which are made partly of cholesterol. Others may disagree but so far I have yet to see them produce much evidence...
As always it's up to you what you put in your body.
I had my first and only one done at Rivers Hospital in Hertfordshire. At the time it was £225 but think they are now somewhere close to £450? So far as I know still the cheapest in the UK.. if you find a better priced one please let me know as I'm due another.Been checking prices for CAC scans and may pursue that route as an option but I intend to ask doc about tests. Doing as much re-reading as I can before my appointment on Tuesday.
Thanks @Debandez. To be clear, I am in agreement that statins are frequently offered to anyone and everyone of a certain age, especially if they also have T2, and / or other conditions, without considering the adverse or effects, or even if they will be of any benefit at all.Sorry to hear that Pipp.
i absolutely agree. I wasn't dismissing them, I know they do have their place. I was just sharing my experience which is similar to many. They seem to dish them out like smarties. I was offered at the beginning of my journey along with metformin as a matter of course, it seems the 2 go hand in hand. No dietary advice to control blood sugars apart from cut down on sugar, biscuits, cakes. :-( I was borderline for BP meds too. Almost 3 years down the line no meds. Long may that last. But i don't have the issues in your family so feel very lucky in that respect.
I should have clarified but didn't think so thank you for bringing it to my attention. I will know for next timeThanks @Debandez. To be clear, I am in agreement that statins are frequently offered to anyone and everyone of a certain age, especially if they also have T2, and / or other conditions, without considering the adverse or effects, or even if they will be of any benefit at all.
The reason I responded to your post is that I don’t think many people are aware of familial hypercholesterolaemia, and that condition would make some perhaps need to reconsider whether the negative effects are a worthy risk for them.
Thank you for the link it is most useful. I stopped losing weight around Christmas so I expected my cholesterol to have stabilised by now. I have put on a couple of kilos during lockdown so don't know if that might have impacted on things. Think the next stage might be buy another test and try Dave Feldman's regime for fixing the results. Don' want to take statins but my brother had a heart attack a few weeks ago so I do have to look at this as a possibility. Did your bloods go up by taking statins and did you have any side effects?
Thank you for moving this, I didn't intend that the original thread be derailed but so appreciative of all those who responded with encouragement and various links.
ooops, I thought it was me that had done the derailing. Guilty as charged.Thank you for moving this, I didn't intend that the original thread be derailed but so appreciative of all those who responded with encouragement and various links.
I'm glad you posted this, pipp. Too many people on this board get very argumentative when anyone else tries to post alerts about the risks of LCHF without having cholesterol levels checked.
There. That's me on this topic. I am a lot more concerned about high cholesterol than highs and lows of FBG. A heart attack can kill quickly and with little warning. Diabetes is more a chronic condition than a sneak attack.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (I can see why they call it FH) is interesting to me. My cholesterol was deemed high, (HDL 2.4, trigs 0.5, LDL 4.5, total around 8). I was referred to a Lipidologist who arranged a barrage of tests. Basically I did not have FH but 12 other specific tests (DNA) confirmed that I did have indicators that meant my LDL was naturally higher than the so called norm. I can't remember the exact tests although I have an interesting letter detailing the breakdown of it all and coming up with the conlcusion that genetically my cholesterol was NEVER going to be anywhere near the magic number of 4. The Consultant said forget about trying to use diet to change the numbers (negligible) but then said 'you should go on statins'. I queried why as my body seemed to be coping with it and he said 'in case' basically. I do not take statins, I have no other high risk markers for heart issues other than diabetes and I take every measure to prevent those issues. I refuse to take a strong drug on a just in case basis. I asked for a CAC scan to see if my arteries were blocked and he said 'You don't need one, you're obviously fit'. So WHY take statins then? x
Spoke to my GP this morning. He definitely thinks I have too many markers that are indicators of heart problems in the future. Long term high cholesterol and a family history of heart problems. As well as my brother, my sister had a heart attack a few years ago and my father died of heart disease. He basically said that I would not be able to bring my cholesterol levels down through diet alone. He actually thinks that whatever I am doing is causing me harm, cholesterol levels have risen by over 50%. He already knew that I didn't want to take statins so was asking me why and he did listen to my reasoning although I am not sure he was convinced. He asked me to consider taking a low dose of statin (when my levels would indicate a high one) to see how I go he said he would not be doing his duty (of care) if he did not recommend them given my circumstances. He also mentioned he would like to refer me to see a lipidologist. We have arranged a face to face meeting on Friday to discuss things but has not tried to coerce me at all to take statins.Hi @Ryhia .
It is hardly surprising that some people have gained weight during lockdown, with disruption to normal life. I started to, then I put brakes on by reducing portion size, and some fasting, too.
Dave Feldman does give excellent advice and info. I think with any info we each need to apply advice to our own, individual, circumstances. It can be difficult to come to decisions when there is so much conflicting info. It appears that GPs seem to just treat statins as a ‘miracle cure all’. My own decision to accept statins was based on knowledge at the time. In addition to the family history, I also had hypertension (since my first pregnancy in my mid twenties, when I also had pre-eclampsia), and was morbidly obese in addition to the diabetes diagnosis, I had seen close relatives develop heart problems and some had early onset dementia.
I was prescribed Metformin at the same time as the statins, (originally Atorvastatin) and I don’t have my data to hand from the start of that , but cannot remember any great increase in BG levels. If I find my records I will give that info. I did have some joint pains, but that could also be due to arthritis I have had since my teens (yes, I inhertited all the dodgy genes) and the excess weight I was carrying. The dosage of Atorvastatin was reduced, and Ezitembe added. I don’t have any discernable problems with these, and have not had any adverse cardiac events. As I am now getting on (mid 60s) and female, I am reviewing all medications, as polyphamacy in old age is, I believe, often the cause of more problems than it solves. Unfortunately, my GPseems to have gone into hibernation, and there have been no opportunities to discuss anything, unless I want to do it by phone. As I also have hearing loss (see what I mean about bad genes) this is not really a viable option. I don’t see this as a disadvantage, as I feel the GP advice is generally toeing the NHS line. I am considering private blood tests at local pharmacy. If I were just starting the journey, I would definitely consider the CAC scan, too.
I am sorry that you have the worry about your brother. In making decisions I did consider my siblings’ health conditions, too. I would read as much as possible before making any decision, bearing in mind that some are biased, and influenced by agendas and big pharma and food producers. Alas, even my earlier references to topics on familial hypercholesterolaemia have advice on diet that follows the low fat ‘good carbs’ mantra.
Best of luck.
Oh thank you for that I will have a look. Sorry for the cross posting.https://ihda.ie/cac-scan-centers/
This charity lists places in the UK and Ireland where you can get your arteries scanned in order to predict your actual risk of an event regardless of your ldl level or other risk factors.
The films on the site are quite informative too.
I asked for a CAC scan to see if my arteries were blocked and he said 'You don't need one, you're obviously fit'. So WHY take statins then? x
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