Type2 confirmed yesterday

It is common practice for GP's to devolve Type 2 diabetes patients to a nurse. Personally I have never once seen a GP in relation to my diabetes. After the blood tests that revealed diabetes I received a letter from the surgery asking me to make a nurse appointment. The nurse gave me my diagnosis, discussed all the results, went through all the usual stuff about diet and lifestyle, and made me another blood test appointment 3 months hence. The only time I have seen a GP in relation to this was not to discuss diabetes but to discuss and push statins on me because "we give statins to all diabetics". That is all she was bothered about.

 

A drop from 121 to 75 is brilliant in only 3 months. No wonder the nurse was happy. Please don't be disappointed - it is an excellent drop. (and don't forget the HbA1c is a sort of average of the previous 2 to 3 months so will include the time you were stuck in the 9's.) Also well done to the nurse for saying statins versus diet and exercise are your choice.

As for your cholesterol of 5.4, this is your total cholesterol, and unless you know the breakdown this figure is fairly meaningless. You need to know the HDL, LDL and triglycerides which together make up the total. The HDL is the good cholesterol, the LDL is a bit of a mix, the triglycerides are the baddies. What you need is a print out of the blood results - not just for the HbA1c and cholesterol, but also the kidneys, liver and anything else they tested. A good tip is to never, ever, accept the words "fine" "good" "OK". The nurse and GPs ideas of what are fine may not be yours. You need the actual levels, particularly so you have something to compare when you have your next lot of tests in order to keep an eye on any future trends.

If you are in England your surgery should put blood test results on line. You do have to register for this through the surgery and complete a form. It saves all the hassle of waiting for results - they just appear on line. Mine are often there within 24 hours. In the meantime, print outs are available when you ask. The receptionist usually does this.

 

Sounds all good to me. You're well on your way!

 

I think our bodies like to stay where they are - so your liver was probably desperately trying to keep your sugar levels at the same levels you were at for ages before. Once you beat it into submission, and the numbers dropped - things get a lot easier. It happens sometimes with weight too - we stall for ages. That is a massive massive improvement in only a little bit of time. And now you have motivation to keep up the excellent work and try and get the numbers you want and deserve!

 

It all depends on the ratios and triglycerides. Was it as fasted test? Mine is higher and my doc is fine about it as my triglycerides are low and ratios are good. I did have to point that out though.

 

Sticking to low carb probably will improve them.

If it wasn’t fasted whatever you ate will have quite possibly raised trigs. This is why I fast. Level playing field to compare results.

Lower carb might not lower ldl it it typically changes ldl from small dense potentially harmful particles to large buoyant potentially protective particles and unless they test which (they typically don’t) then even that is quite likely not a problem either. Higher hdl is good. Lower trigs are good. Totals are pointless.

 

Try these


https://cholesterolcode.com/new-report-tool-launched/


https://www.hughcalc.org/chol-si.php

 

Your drop of 121 to 75 beats my 91 to 47 by two - so I'd say that you are probably going to hit normality before too long, and that there is no need to be at all disappointed.
As people are beginning to point out that all the 'fat is bad' info was based on some very bad manipulation of figures and that the results have been pretty dismal all round, I suspect that there will have to be a re evaluation before long. When studies show that those who live longest tend to have higher LDL, why expend so much effort and energy to reduce it?

 

I would say it's as practical as saying we should all weigh exactly the same, whether male, female, child, tall, short, etc. Why oh why do they think there is a magical number that EVERY single person should be at regardless of how individual bodies work and exact amounts of any one thing they may require? That is why with all other blood tests there is a 'between range' which can be quite wide. x

 

I'd put money on you being in the normal range by Christmas, and I don't bet.

 

Craigmartin

You are an inspiration to me mate, keep up the great work