Type 2 Diabetes & Cholesterol

[bigalxyz]

Hello forum,

Briefly:

Blood test in May showed hyperglycaemia - blood glucose up at 17 (can't remember the units of measurement) and HbA1c at around 10%. GP said textbook type 2 diabetes, prescribed metformin 1500mg daily.

4 months on metformin + increased exercise + almost complete avoidance of sugar + avoiding carbohydrates in general to a large extent.

Result: HbA1c has dropped to 6.3% which my GP said was "spot on".

However, total cholesterol at 5.6. He said it might be necessary to start me on statins to get that down (he wants me to see the diabetes nurse to discuss that). I can't say I'm wild about the idea:
* side-effects?
* I'm reluctant to take more meds than absolutely necessary
* is 5.6 a particularly worrying level anyway? I'm sure I remember reading somewhere (without wishing to sound like a mad conspiracy theorist) that the people who came up with the thresholds had a financial interest in the companies who make the statin meds - hence conflict of interest, possibly leading to their overuse?

I'm delighted about the blood sugar control but a bit unsure/worried/puzzled by the cholesterol/statin issue. Does anyone have any thoughts, advice, comments, etc.?

Many thanks,
Alan.

 

[Dougie22]

Hi there,

I think you'll find there's quite a lot of dicusiion on this topic around the forum already.

Camp 1 basically believes that the doctor knows best and that the NICE and SIGN guidelines should be complied with. In SIGN - The Scottish Recommendations - it is recommended that statins be prescribed to all type two patients over 40 regardless of cholesterol levels.

Camp 2 (to which I belong) basically believes that the case for statins has been overstated and the side effects understated. Some of us have experienced joint pain, etc. They don't think you should take any prescription drug for the rest of your life (maybe 40 years) unless it is absolutely essential.

In my view, these two camps are unlikely to ever come togather.

You have quite a lot of reading to do if you want to make up your own mind.

Others will probably pass on references for you, or you can check out the "similar topics" threads below.

Personnaly, I'd be very happy with 5.6. I've got mine down by daily benecol drink and weight loss, although I still have some way to go on the weight loss.

 

[Daibell]

I've been on Simvastatin for 6 years or more and luckily have no muscle aches etc. A lot people have these aches and If I did I would stop immediately. I had to ask my GP to halve my dose as the previous GP stupidly put me a high does even though my Chol was only around 6.5. Even on this lower dose my readings are around 3.5 so I may ask to halve it again. My wife was given the same high dose of statins and had a serious liver reaction possibly due to having had Hep A. Statins are not the safe drugs that we are all told. They appear to be safe for many but certainly not all. Your 5.6 reading is not that bad so if you go onto statins I would certainly ask for quite a low dosage.

 

[bigalxyz]

Thanks for all the comments. I've heard that cholesterol going too low may help slightly with mortality caused by heart disease but can increase mortality caused by cancer - so overall mortality is little changed. Also heard of adverse effects on mood, mental health, etc. (this has been a concern for me) with very low levels of cholesterol. I guess I have some homework to do...

One thing that I do keep thinking of is a survey I read about recently, showing average cholesterol levels in a number of European countries recently - and the surprising lack of correlation with life expectancy. Iceland is a good case in point - the average cholesterol level is very high (thanks to their diet which is heavy on animal fat, bring on the whale blubber etc.) but they have something like the 3rd or 4th highest life expectancy of any country in the world.

 

[angieG]

Do you know the breakdown of your total?
Mine was 7.1 at my last test a month ago, the doctor called me in to go onto statins (not something I will consider unless absolutely necessary as my Mum was real bad with them) so I went in expecting an argument. Anyway he said now he had had chance to check the component figures he wasn't bothered as my ratio was 3 which was fine and I had 2.4 of good HDL (which was way higher than a lot of folks) so he said I was fine for now....well happy!!
Try eating jumbo oats (either in porridge or homemade muesli) in small quantities (they are lethal on the levels to some!!), almonds, walnuts, flaxseed, benecol, flora pro-active.....all these things could help.
Regards
Angie

 

[bigalxyz]

Thanks - HDL was low at 0.8 so ratio showed as 7:1 (0.8 vs 5.6). No LDL shown and no triglycerides (aren't these much more important???) shown either. Would be good to get HDL up - little glass of olive oil for breakfast perhaps?!

 

[angieG]

You're on your own with olive oil for breakfast!! Urrgh I would be sick first thing just thinking about that I think!!
Don't know what my trigs were this last time but they were 0.8 6 months ago.
I was told to get it down about 7 months ago, I haven't managed to lower the total much but they make-up has changed for the better just by trawling the internet looking at recommended stuff to eat.
While the doctor says he's not worried, I'm not worried....far better to eat the right things than take those tablets!!
Best of luck
Angie