Statins and HBA1C levels

[Lou_c]

To Dillinger: I am a man, I wonder if the doctor would have not prescribed statins if I was a woman.

I received a call this morning from my surgery and they have brought my appointment forward to next week to discuss the results. So I will see what he says. I tested last night two hours after eating and my level was 7.5. This morning it was 7.2 which is too high but has come down from the high 8's. 2 hours after breakfast though it was high, 11.1 which I never had before. I know my meter is probably over estimating by 8-10% but that still makes that 11.1 way too high. Maybe the morning one will take longer to readjust I will just have to wait and see.

 

[Prem51]

Hi @Lou_c Some exercise like a brisk walk at least 5 times a week can also help to lower cholesterol levels (and bs).

 

[Lou_c]

Hi @Lou_c Some exercise like a brisk walk at least 5 times a week can also help to lower cholesterol levels (and bs).

Hi,
I do walk on average around 3/5 miles every week day and this was working, before the statins, in lowering my glucose levels, especially the after breakfast one. Not working at the moment, but again I may need the statins effect to totally clear from my system. Not sure how long that will take.

 

[Prem51]

When I first told my GP I had stopped taking statins she wanted to do a test after 3 months to see how it had affected my cholesterol levels, so that must be how long it takes to clear from the system.

 

[Lou_c]

I was planning on asking them to repeat the blood tests in 3 months time so will see what they say next week.

 

[Lou_c]

I meant, the walking is not working/not making any difference at the moment.

 

[Prem51]

I realised that after I posted, so deleted it. Well I hope you get your meds sorted out ok.

 

[Lou_c]

Update: Went to see my doctor last night who did not attempt to put me back on statins. Switched my BP medication and we have agreed that I will do another HBA1C test in two months time to see what the level is at. My random glucose checks so far seem to suggest that the levels are slowly coming down. So will update at a later date.

 

[lindisfel]

For some statins put up their fasting blood glucose. It does mine but it doesn't everybodies! One should weigh up the doctors advice, if they don't mess up your hba1c they could help your individual condition. None of us are A.N.Other average man/woman in a big study. D.

 

[covknit]

Hi, total cholesterol levels are meaningless with regard to CVD/CHD (familial hypercholesterolemia aside).

Statins won't make you live a single day longer if you are a woman (I'm making that assumption based on your name, so forgive me if you not!).

Elevated HbA1c over time directly correlates with all complications in diabetes.

If you want to make changes to your diet it is the carbohydrates that you should be looking at with suspicion

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20089734

Best

Dillinger

Thank you for this. I was going to start statins tomorrow. I forecast another day with head buried in the laptop. Have to have my diabetic eye check Wednesday and 3 glaucomas in 2 hospitals after that but before 23rd so in so far as it is possible I shall be haunting the hospitals too

 

[Johnjoe13]

Yes, an HbA1c of 56 is far too high and should be brought down to reduce the risk of your diabetes progressing.

Some time ago I read a doc suggesting that doctors start to medicate their patients if the HbA1c rises above 53.
This NICE doc (dated Dec 2015) suggests starting patients on Metformin, if their HbA1c rises to 48 mmol/l and if it rises to 58 the recommendation is to add in a second drug.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng...apy-in-adults-with-type-2-diabetes-2185604173

Can I ask what lifestyle and dietary measures you are using to control your blood glucose? Consensus on the forum shows that diet and exercise are much more effective for Type 2s than most of the drugs.[/QUOT

This is very interesting Brunneria but can you explain what the difference is in the NICE doc between where it states 'First Intensification' and Second intensification when on each of the descriptions in the boxes for both say 58mmol/mol ? if you know that is? Reason I ask is I was put on metformin because mine had risen to 58 and the DN as much as said this was my fault when she asked me what had changed in the 3 months since the last HbA1c and what was I doing differently. Well obviously since then they had given my this statin and added the Amlodipine 10mg as well as Lostartan. I'm now thinking wait a minute? the stuff they have prescribed me does increase glucose levels then how come she asked me why my level had gone up? surely they must have known this the sly sneaky lot? The Doc never said these could increase BG levels, in fact he showed me a computer diagram with type 2 on it and my life expectancy cut short by 10 years, he then added the statin and low and behold I got some more years back. And yes as with Lou_c's original post, my gums have also started bleeding along with the gum growth.

I'm now thinking maybe I need to go in and have words with the Doc & the DN. Interestingly I had a blood test nearly two weeks ago at their request after being on metformin 3 months, they said not to make the usual appointment with the DN for results after but that if there was any change they'd contact me, not heard from them so i'm thinking no change to my numbers or anything else.

 

[Brunneria]

Hi @Johnjoe13

You asked what First and Second Intensification means. Basically it means intensifying the drug regime you are prescribed.
So you go from no drug to one = 1st intensification, then later they add a second drug = 2nd intensification.
This link may help:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs...d-glucose-lowering-therapy-in-type-2-diabetes

As for your nurse and doc not mentioning that statins may raise blood glucose - it is probably because they don't know it.

You will quickly learn (as you find out more about diabetes, both here on the forum, using your own blood testing, through diet, the internet and reading books about it) that most general practitioners and non-specialist nurses know less about it than you do.

 

[Bluetit1802]

@Johnjoe13

I would never assume your blood test results are "fine" or "OK" or "the same as last time". When tests are done, the lab completes the details on the computer and highlights any that are outside the standard range. These are all the doctor looks at. They don't always have time to look at every single item on the report. There may well be results that are only just within the standard range and increasing/decreasing test by test. If you want to take control of your health, you need to know these trends.

I advise you to contact the surgery and ask the receptionist for a print out of your latest results. You can then study them at your leisure and do your research on what they mean. (or ask on here). Similarly, if you are in England, your surgery may have these results available on-line. From April 2016 all surgeries were told to put test results on-line. A few haven't bothered as yet. Do ask about this.

 

[Johnjoe13]

@Johnjoe13

I would never assume your blood test results are "fine" or "OK" or "the same as last time". When tests are done, the lab completes the details on the computer and highlights any that are outside the standard range. These are all the doctor looks at. They don't always have time to look at every single item on the report. There may well be results that are only just within the standard range and increasing/decreasing test by test. If you want to take control of your health, you need to know these trends.

I advise you to contact the surgery and ask the receptionist for a print out of your latest results. You can then study them at your leisure and do your research on what they mean. (or ask on here). Similarly, if you are in England, your surgery may have these results available on-line. From April 2016 all surgeries were told to put test results on-line. A few haven't bothered as yet. Do ask about this.

Thanks @Bluetit1802 Yes I agree and have been in to see them this afternoon and was told by the receptionist she did not have that information and all test results are available by phone only from 8.30 to 13.30 Mon to Fri and I could ask for a summary then which I should be able to collect, though she had not done this herself before. She was busy and a Q behind me so didn't bother asking her to go and make sure so I'll phone Monday. I have however decided to take Lou_c 's example and stop taking my Amlodipine to see if the gum bleeding stops, obviously I'm not going to tell the Doc this but will keep taking the statin and the other medication.

 

[Lou_c]

I know this thread is now a bit old but I thought I would add to it. I am still off of the Statins and the Amlodipine and my blood pressure according to my own meter appears to have come down and is now what it always was, anything from 125/80 to 134/85. However my diabetes control has now collapsed. It may be partially down to not testing my glucose too often. Last October my HBA1C had gone up to 58 so after the statins it has not come back down. Doctors still refuse to accept that it is an issue and I am still being advised to take them. My cholesterol overall level has gone back to the usual 7.0 but my triglycerides have not gone up by too much and are way lower the they have been in the past albeit still too high at 2.45. Had a full blood count and Liver function test in December and all was fine apart from an inflammation marker which was raised. In between this test and my appointment last week with the doctor I have started to get burning sensations in my feet at night sometimes pain (I'm certain I had this either early last year or the year before and then vanished after three weeks). Doctor has advised I wait until April to do HBA1c and tests for B12 deficiency re Neuropathy etc. I did also have a urine sample checked on that appointment and that was completely normal for 'everything' as he put it. problem is that since seeing him I am now also experiencing a feeling on my tongue, it comes and goes, as if I have drank something too hot which leaves the tongue very slightly numb. I have started testing aggressively again and now have found that after meals (2 hours later) having eaten very little sometimes, my levels are shooting up to anything from 10-14 mmols I have managed to get it back under control the last few days by mainly eating salads and the figures are now 5.6 to 6.5. My concern is that neuropathy may have kicked in. I thought this took a lot longer once diagnosed. Obviously I was prediabetic for probably two\three years before being labelled 'Diabetic' in May 2015 and I don't know whether that period also contributes to complications. I am seeking advise on whether I can insist that I be referred to a consultant for a proper discussion regarding my situation or whether it is a case of you are diabetic and there is no point speaking to anybody else about it. Apologies if this is a bit disjointed but I am a bit deflated at the moment.

Thanks