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New Scores on the Doors

AndBreathe

Master
Retired Moderator
Messages
11,582
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
How time flies. Where did the last 3 months go?

On Monday I had my latest set of monitoring bloods, and the results were available today. There's a definite highlight and a definite low light.

Highlight: HbA1C is now 32, or 5.1%

Lowlight: Cholesterol is raised. Everything is in order, except for LDL, which impacts on the total. The breakdown is:

Total Cholesterol: 7.3
Serum Triglycerides: 1.1
HDL: 2.0
LDL: 4.8
TC/HDL Ratio: 3.7

GP has asked for a call to discuss the cholesterol. The issue is the TC score, I'm guessing. Especially as my qrisk score for these latest results comes out at 5.9%, taking into account my T2.

Oh well. Something else to work on. She'll have her work cut out to persuade me on the statins argument.
 
Ace HbA1c though.

Don't let the cholesterol squelch that triumph!

Lots of cholesterol research, get all your ducks in a row...
 
My mean cell haemoglobin was slightly up too, and one suggestion for a cause for that is dehydration. There are also a number of studies for dehydration causing raised lipids, so I have reading to do.

There are some notes appended to the print out I picked up, with a couple of acronyms I'm not familiar with, but it included "?Hypothyroidism", so there could be some interesting discussions afoot. Is she ready for the challenge?
 
I think but don't quote me, that hypothyroidism is linked to high cholesterol levels- certainly my friend was saying her cholesterol is higher and it was common problem in folk with thyroid issues- sure there's plenty of stuff out on net to help give you a few pointers for the consultation. If your thyroid is an issue then I'd think that they'd want to medicate for that and give you statins as well.
 
TSH is mid-range, and I'm asymptomatic, for anything. We'll see what transpires.

I'm not keen to take medications of any sort, so there'll need to be significantly more substance than "Trust me, I'm a doctor" going on.
 
AndBreathe said:
TSH is mid-range, and I'm asymptomatic, for anything. We'll see what transpires.

I'm not keen to take medications of any sort, so there'll need to be significantly more substance than "Trust me, I'm a doctor" going on.
Click to expand...


I am not an expert but I am not sure that thyroid issues are the sort of thing that can be treat by diet and exercise changes- of course no one wants to take meds but sadly some are more necessary than others. I'd want a full range of thyroid tests before accepting the tablets but if they showed an issue I'd go with it. Statins I have my reservations about whatever- they told me at DESMOND that drinking one of those Benecol type drinks can lower it by 10%( though I think you need to get the light version as others high in carbs) so it might be something you can do that won't go against your no meds ethos. Hopefully it will be nothing and your HDL is high which is good.
 
l also have had raised chol. since LCHF ditto to refusing statins. Have read up a lot several things stand out that fast fat loss raises it which would make sense and given how l have slammed down on weight l can see that happening. It takes up to 6 months for your body to adjust to the new lifestyle. And if l can find it chia seeds are excellent at knocking it on the head.
l now have chia, flax and hemp seed (tspoon) of each over every meal. Your cholesterol is only raised by about 20% of what you eat the rest is the liver.
l will try and message you the info but may not be till the weekend am at work and computer not happy on the net here hope that this message posts...
 
Forget it will message you on the weekend now my trackerball has gone from being a pain to a total ********** will get another one l think.
 

Thanks, @Mud Island Dweller
 

If you believe you don't need statins, what can your GP say to convince you you're wrong?
I'm on them, but only becuase I want to be.
 
douglas99 said:
If you believe you don't need statins, what can your GP say to convince you you're wrong?
I'm on them, but only becuase I want to be.
Click to expand...
Douglas, thanks for posting.

I don't want statins, and for me to take them, I will need to be convinced, by evidence based research, that there is a real, quantifiable benefit to me. My reading on statins for women of a certain age, in my case 57, with good BP, carrying no weight, and no pre-existing coronary history doesn't compel me to try them. The GP's appended note of "?hypothyroidism" throws something else unexpected into the mix, so there will be plenty to discuss. I'm also asymptomatic for hypothyroidism, and my TSH is bang in range. I do understand TSH is not an effective measure of thyroid function, but again, I don't carry any of the simplistic markers of fatigue, difficulty losing weight, thinning hair.

It'll be an interesting phone call, for sure. I'm not a bolshy patient, but I am a challenge, in that I expect to understand what is being diagnosed and proposed, and I expect to be properly engaged in any resultant action. I'm a nightmare in any tick-box exercise, but then again, I see that as my part of the deal.
 
The only problem with evidence based research in (like on here), no matter what you find, there's always at least as much research showing the opposite.
As to a 'quantifiable benefit' you numbers will go down.
Anything else, good or bad, is speculation.
Even if having your numbers down is speculation at the moment.
 
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