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Cholestrol. Are my readings bad?

Debandez

Debandez

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,031
Location
Lancashire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
My question is about cholesterol. It's gone up since my last a1c in February from 5.2 to 6.8. I expected it to go up but not quite so much. I must admit I'm a tad concerned. Will it keep going up? Shall I eat less fat? My a1c now is going in the right direction so the LCHF diet Is working in that respect. No need for meds apparently re cholesterol. I thought they would automatically offer me statins (not that I would take them).

The breakdown is as follows:
4.95 LDL
1.85 HDL
0.99 TRI

If anyone is clued up on cholesterol I would love your guidance. I've read various info which is conflicting even on nhs choices which says it might not be as bad as we think it us for us! Any help much appreciated.
 
Debandez said:
My question is about cholesterol. It's gone up since my last a1c in February from 5.2 to 6.8. I expected it to go up but not quite so much. I must admit I'm a tad concerned. Will it keep going up? Shall I eat less fat? My a1c now is going in the right direction so the LCHF diet Is working in that respect. No need for meds apparently re cholesterol. I thought they would automatically offer me statins (not that I would take them).

The breakdown is as follows:
4.95 LDL
1.85 HDL
0.99 TRI

If anyone is clued up on cholesterol I would love your guidance. I've read various info which is conflicting even on nhs choices which says it might not be as bad as we think it us for us! Any help much appreciated.
Click to expand...
@bulkbiker @Bluetit1802
 
Debandez said:
@bulkbiker @Bluetit1802
Click to expand...

As far as I can see it is only the LDL that is higher than standard. Your trigs-HDL ratio is good and that is the important ratio. A lot of us find our LDL goes up on lchf but the lower the trigs are the more big fluffy particles there are likely to be in the LDL and therefore less of the small high density ones, which are the bad ones.

Did you fast for this test? Just water for 10 hours?

Also, cholesterol can rise a bit if we are losing weight (although mine didn't)

As you didn't get offered statins I assume your doctor/nurse isn't concerned.

Sorry I can't give you links. I'm away from home with an ancient phone and no WiFi!!
 
Bluetit1802 said:
As far as I can see it is only the LDL that is higher than standard. Your trigs-HDL ratio is good and that is the important ratio. A lot of us find our LDL goes up on lchf but the lower the trigs are the more big fluffy particles there are likely to be in the LDL and therefore less of the small high density ones, which are the bad ones.

Did you fast for this test? Just water for 10 hours?

Also, cholesterol can rise a bit if we are losing weight (although mine didn't)

As you didn't get offered statins I assume your doctor/nurse isn't concerned.

Sorry I can't give you links. I'm away from home with an ancient phone and no WiFi!!
Click to expand...
That puts my mind at rest. I did fast for 12 hours just water. I'm not clued up on cholesterol but intend to be! With your help :-)

Feeling better already. Only saw DN who said risk factor unfer 10% so no meds necessary so I'm happy with that. I might get a home testing kit so i can keep my eyes on things.
 
Debandez said:
That puts my mind at rest. I did fast for 12 hours just water. I'm not clued up on cholesterol but intend to be! With your help :)

Feeling better already. Only saw DN who said risk factor unfer 10% so no meds necessary so I'm happy with that. I might get a home testing kit so i can keep my eyes on things.
Click to expand...

I would save your money, honestly. Let's imagine that on one occasion you see a slight rise, what would you do?
Keep your carbs at your preferred level for good bg and this should reflect on your trigs. You are doing well, keep it up.
 
Our lipids are moving all the time. Up and down, just like our glucose. Rarely the same from minute to minute. A blood test is just a snap shot at the time of the test. It is not any sort of average. I wouldn't waste my money on a home test. And as said, what would you do? Try to relax about it. Your nurse is happy, so be happy with her. :)
 
As long as your HDL is high and TGs are low, the total cholesterol and LDL don't matter much. Most important thing from my research is the Tg/HDL ratio, which should be below 2. This is very helpful for anyone who needs to understand science behind cholesterol

 
Bluetit1802 said:
I agree this ratio is the most important one - Trigs low, HDL high. However, according to my research the ideal ratio should be under 0.87mmol/l.
Click to expand...
Yes on a strict standard, optimal value should be below 1, you are absolutely right.
 
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