Relation b/w lowering Blood Sugar and Increase in Cholestrol

[pkumar]

Hi All,

Is there relation (inversly) b/w lowering blood sugar and increase in total cholestrol. I have been seeing post where trend of HBA1C shows going down and Cholestrol (total) increasing. Is it primarly due to LCHF diet?

In my case, HBA1C from 6.4% reduced to 5.7% but LDL increased from 2.8 to 2.9. Just marginal but wanted to check if this proportion holds good in general.

Thanks
Kumar

 

[KennyA]

I think I recall reading some reserch on this, but I haven't kept the references. In my case, my total cholesterol rose initially on a LCHF diet but is now falling (8.3 to 7.2 in six months). No further change in diet and I expect further falls are possible. I've had what they describe as "high" total cholesterol for 30+ years and have never produced a result in what they describe as the "normal" range. Naturally they are still pushing statins at me (despite the fall!) and I continue to resist.

 

[ianf0ster]

@pkumar There is a link between what is known as LCHF and increased HDL (also known as 'good cholesterol') . HDL is included in 'Total Cholesterol'. For LDL it varies - while it's often the case that LDL increases during the weight loss phase (when the excess body fat is being used up), it often leads to lower LDL once that phase is over. But having said that, some like me get a rising LDL.

But my Cholesterol ratios are improved despite the higher LDL, since my Triglycerides are almost half what they used to be. Since LDL is vital for life (it is used in the immune system and for making hormones) I'm still off the statins.

 

[LionChild]

Hi All,

Is there relation (inversly) b/w lowering blood sugar and increase in total cholestrol. I have been seeing post where trend of HBA1C shows going down and Cholestrol (total) increasing. Is it primarily due to LCHF diet?

In my case, HBA1C from 6.4% reduced to 5.7% but LDL increased from 2.8 to 2.9. Just marginal but wanted to check if this proportion holds good in general.

Thanks
Kumar

That's a very interesting point, pkumar. I will have to look into it, as my total cholesterol is 5.8, and A1c is 47. I understand that ratios are important here. On this DIABETES.CO.UK site, I am told that my HDL/Total Cholesterol at 3.67 is healthy, yet my doctor says I should be on statins because my 5.8 total is too high for a diabetic, and needs to be around 4. I have declined statins for now, but this is confusing....?

From what I have read, doctors don't normally do a LDL test, and it cannot accurately be worked out? Did you have a direct LDL test pkumar? Apparently VLDL is also a factor to add to level of LDL.

 

[pkumar]

That's a very interesting point, pkumar. I will have to look into it, as my total cholesterol is 5.8, and A1c is 47. I understand that ratios are important here. On this DIABETES.CO.UK site, I am told that my HDL/Total Cholesterol at 3.67 is healthy, yet my doctor says I should be on statins because my 5.8 total is too high for a diabetic, and needs to be around 4. I have declined statins for now, but this is confusing....?

From what I have read, doctors don't normally do a LDL test, and it cannot accurately be worked out? Did you have a direct LDL test pkumar? Apparently VLDL is also a factor to add to level of LDL.

My GP did Lipid profile test. GP was pushing for statins for 2.9 LDL. We declined and wanted to handle via diet. Thank you for your pointer.

 

[Antje77]

Is there relation (inversly) b/w lowering blood sugar and increase in total cholestrol. I have been seeing post where trend of HBA1C shows going down and Cholestrol (total) increasing. Is it primarly due to LCHF diet?

For me it was the other way around.
I was diagnosed in november 2016, reduced carbs, started gliclazide, changed to insulin in january 2017.
Top graph is my total cholesterol, steep drop is when I was on statins for a month, maybe two before stopping them again. Haven't been on statins since early 2017, still eat LCHF.
You can see how my cholesterol rose a little after stopping the statins but it came down again by itself, together with my hba1c, which is the bottom graph.

Latest results are from almost two years ago, as I'm long overdue a blood test, so no idea how my cholesterol is now. My hba1c should be about the same as in 2019.

 

[bulkbiker]

Hi All,

Is there relation (inversly) b/w lowering blood sugar and increase in total cholestrol. I have been seeing post where trend of HBA1C shows going down and Cholestrol (total) increasing. Is it primarly due to LCHF diet?

In my case, HBA1C from 6.4% reduced to 5.7% but LDL increased from 2.8 to 2.9. Just marginal but wanted to check if this proportion holds good in general.

Thanks
Kumar

Cholesterol is pretty dynamic and can change relatively quickly depending on what you have eaten and when.
A change in LDL, which is calculated and not measured by the way, from 2.8 to 2.9 mmol/l is pretty meaningless and could simply be "testing noise".
Your HbA1c is going in exactly the right direction which is far more important than a calculated number.

 

[LaoDan]

Didn’t measure pre diagnosis. My lipid panel came back normal when I was in full keto mode.

 

[Resurgam]

My cholesterol on low carb is lower than when on a 'healthy' high carb diet low in fat.