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low carb for 3 months and now need to lower cholesterol

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galileo

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Hi all I am T2 was diagnosed approximately 4 years ago, I had a blood test 3 months ago and was 53/7.0 I was asked to try and get to 48/6.5, I started a low-carb diet 30/70 carbs a day. My last blood test two weeks ago was 48/6.5 I was pleased, but my cholesterol was 5.8 I have never been above 5.

The clinic suggested a diet change to try and lower my cholesterol they don't want me on more medication I already take 14 tablets a day. The problem is I am really struggling not only am I T2 I also have Crohn's trying to find food that will help lower my cholesterol that won't trigger a Crohn's flare is not easy, and still have to remain on the low-carb diet. I cannot exercise as I am physically disabled I can walk short distances with a crutch, I have several spinal conditions and most of my joints have Arthritis thanks to Crohn's.

At the moment I am drinking Benecol seems alright so far. I was wondering if anyone could suggest anything to help lower my cholesterol? I have been reading trying to find food items, but I am so tired all the time I don't seem to be able to retain the information. The last 6 weeks I have found it very hard to concentrate and get confused with simple tasks I have been told I am borderline for Hypothyroidism. Any suggestions are welcome.
 
galileo said:
The clinic suggested a diet change to try and lower my cholesterol
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Did they make any suggestion as to what to change to or was is as useful as usual... i.e "you need to lose weight" type of nonsense.

Personally I don't worry about cholesterol because it is essential for life and what we don't eat our body makes anyway.
I'm happy to let my body take care of it. If the number appear inconvenient for my doctor then so what!
I'm fairly sure I have researched it more than they have anyway.

Lots of people have found that a meat heavy diet can be good for T2 and many gut based conditions and as that's the way of eating I follow myself it is what I would suggest you try for a few weeks.
The purest exclusion diet is to eat beef and drink water and see if you feel better. if you do then use that as a base and introduce other meats/fish then expand out to veg until you start to feel ill again.

By then your blood sugars should have lowered significantly and excess weight should have started to come off so it will be a win win whatever.
It might appear extreme but anecdotally it has worked for many in your situation.
Good luck!

Edit to add.. watch out for the Benecol drinks they appear to have lots of relatively nasty ingredients.. depending on which on you are having.
 
Sorry.. another thing.. did you just get a total cholesterol level or did they do a full lipid panel?
If you'd share those results it might be illuminating.
 
Dietray changes which may reduce cholesterol:-
Other factors which may reduce cholesterol:-
 
Remember that your body creates a lot of the cholesterol in your blood from carbohydrates.

Ancel Keys "you are what you eat" has been challenged by modern scientists, although there is still no consensus.
 
bulkbiker said:
Sorry.. another thing.. did you just get a total cholesterol level or did they do a full lipid panel?
If you'd share those results it might be illuminating.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies I think it was total I was told I had a full blood test that's all they told me. They didn't make any suggestions, I got the feeling they thought I ate a lot of junk food, I don't I never have they just said make diet adjustments.
Unfortunately red meat can make me unwell I don't eat a lot of any meat I tend to eat pork, chicken and turkey. I only drink water, coffee and tea.




Thanks for the reply and the links. My saturated fat intake is low and has been for years, I cannot tolerate fatty foods I do eat Cheddar and that is a 40% reduced fat one. I have started eating tinned tuna and have always enjoyed tinned salmon, olive oil is a no for me as is Avocados both set off flares.
Being on a low-carb diet I have lost weight don't know how much because I don't weigh myself.

Yes, unfortunately exercise is a no, it's a shame I was a keen golfer in the warmer months with longer daylight I played 5 times a week until my spine conditions meant I had to give up playing.

I gave up smoking nearly 5 years ago.
Yes I need to get weight off I put a lot of weight on due to stopping smoking and becoming more disabled, I never ate more food than when I smoked and get a bit annoyed when a HCP will say "well your appetite increases when you give up smoking".



LittleGreyCat said:
Remember that your body creates a lot of the cholesterol in your blood from carbohydrates.

Ancel Keys "you are what you eat" has been challenged by modern scientists, although there is still no consensus.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. My GP has only mentioned my cholesterol level once and that was when I was diagnosed with T2. I have been told they think I had been diabetic for quite a long time before diagnosis, It is often difficult to get the GP to look past Crohn's as they tend to say "it's your Crohn's making you unwell".
 
My triglycerides went down on low carb/more fat but overall cholesterol went up a bit, that is nothing to worry about as my HDL/LDL ratio had improved - that is my HDL went up, which is fine.
 
I agree with @TriciaWs , if your triglycerides have reduced and your HDL has increased, then it really doesn't matter what your total Cholesterol or your LDL is. Because the important levels and ratios will have all improved - so you will be at less risk than before going Low Carb.

One other point is that while losing weight with Low Carb, your LDL may be temporarily raised since you are using up excess body fat for fuel and that is done via the bloodstream. For some/many, their LDL drops again once their weight stabilises
 
galileo said:
Being on a low-carb diet I have lost weight don't know how much because I don't weigh myself.
.
Click to expand...
While Losing weight, that can raise your cholesterol. There are lots of articles on it. I would ask for a copy of the blood test, if it was a fasting blood test and check the triglyceride and HDL levels, as has been mentioned, they are the important ones. Total cholesterol may not give a true indication.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Losing+weight+can+raise+your+cholesterol.
 
The total cholesterol is meaningless without the full breakdown of how it is made up. It is the total of your HDL (good cholesterol that you very much need), LDL (can be good or not so good depending on how good your triglycerides are) and triglycerides (the baddies). By eating a low carb diet your HDL good stuff will have increased, and this may well be why your total has increased.

You can ask the receptionist at your surgery for a print out of your blood test results and also the ones before that. You are entitled to these, and with all the figures in black and white you can compare them. If you are in England you can also ask to be registered for getting your test results on line. This involves completing a form and providing some photographic ID but once done, all your test results will appear. Most surgeries offer this service. Only a few don't, so just ask.
 
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