Husband's lab results 1 year on low carb

[Winnie53]

I'm the one with type 2 diabetes. My husband doesn't officially have a diabetes diagnosis but he's obese and enjoys the LCHF way of eating too. This year his fasting blood glucose was 94 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L) and his A1c was 5.6%. I wish I'd asked his doctor to check his insulin level.

His lipid profile continues to improve on LCHF diet. Considering his love of bacon and cheese, I'm impressed. He eats a lot more leafy green salads and vegetables now, continues to enjoy fresh fruit, and if split open an avocado, he eats the other half. Haven't been successful in getting him to eat raw nuts. He still prefers the nuts roasted in oil with seasonings. Admittedly, they do taste better, just not as healthy...

2015 - 2016 2015 - 2016
TC...........250 - 216 mg/dL.....(6.47 - 5.59 mmol/L)
HDL..........45 - 44 mg/dL......(1.16 - 1.14 mmol/L)
LDL........188 - 154 mg/dL.....(4.86 - 3.98 mmol/L)
Trig.........109 - 92 mg/dL......(1.23 - 1.04 mmol/L)

Trig/HDL Ratio.....109/45 = 2.42 (2015)
Trig/HDL Ratio.......92/44 = 2.09 (2016)

Your Total Cholesterol of 216 is BORDERLINE
Your LDL of 154 is BORDERLINE
Your HDL of 44 is NORMAL
Your Triglyceride level of 90 is NORMAL

Your Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio is: 4.91 - (preferably under 5.0, ideally under 3.5) GOOD
Your HDL/LDL ratio is: 0.286 - (preferably over 0.3, ideally over 0.4) AT RISK
Your triglycerides/HDL ratio is: 2.045 - (preferably under 4, ideally under 2) NORMAL

There's a calculator for mmol/L too... http://www.hughcalc.org/chol.php

 

[ExD]

I know nothing about lab results so can't comment, but it sounds as though things are going right for you on LCHF. I have coeliac disease, so our diet is interesting. He's lost 2 stone but I've gained a few pounds which doesn't seem fair, but I think on the whole we're fitter than we were. The only problem for me is feeling tired all the time - really tired, to the point I daren't sit down during the afternoons or I fall asleep. I wonder if its the blood pressure lowering pills I'm taking, or if there's something needs tweaking in our diet.

 

[Winnie53]

@ExD thanks.

Curious as to what you eat in a typical day on low carb. Also curious as to what your blood glucose levels are throughout the day, particularly when you're most tired.

When anyone in my circle is having unexplained symptoms the first thing I ask is, "Are you taking any new medications or supplements?" Good question. Worth a search online to see if fatigue is a side effect of your medication. For that particular side effect, sometimes the timing of when you take the medication can make a difference. I know one gentleman who wakes up at 6 a.m., takes his medication, then sleeps for a few more hours.

Another possibility is that you're popping in and out of ketosis. Do you have any idea as to how low carb you're eating? When I'm in ketosis, energy is good, when I'm out, not as good.

Once we're fully into menopause, weight loss is...so...much...harder...perhaps...impossible. Those men though...they make weight loss look so easy! If you become a member of DietDoctor.com there's a new interview with Eric Westman, M.D. in the member area, Advanced Low-Carb Tips! – Interview with Dr. Eric Westman To find it, go to DietDoctor.com, click on the magnifying glass, and do a search for "Eric Westman", but, again, you have to be a member to view it. I picked up some new ideas. Will watch it a couple more times, and take notes.

My weight loss plateaued after I lost 26 pounds. I could lose up to 45 pounds more, but may wait until next year. It's a lot of work and would require giving up some favorite low carb foods temporarily. My husband has a lot of weight too lose which is part of the reason I'm so happy about his most recent lab work. His health markers are improving with the LCHF diet, he's no longer gaining weight, and he's lost some weight.