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Unexpected rise in total cholesterol

Dougie22

Well-Known Member
Messages
319
Location
Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Hi,

From diagnosis six months ago, I've been dieting and improving my fitness and it has been seeming to work. I'm still losing weight (though less than I would like) and my self BG checks are quite good.

Just had my latest set of tests. Haven't had the HbA1c back yet but my total cholesterol seems to have jumped back up to 7.7.

Surely if I've been following the same diet, getting more exercise and losing further weight (even if only a few kilos), my cholesterol should stay the same or lower, not jumping back up again?

Has anyone else experienced this or can anyone shed any light?
 
In my opinion (I'm not a Doctor) the Total-C is a nonsensical number to go by... it is made up mainly from HDL-C + LDL-C. Now, everyone accepts that HDL-C is the "good" cholesterol and more is better -- but if we raise the HDL-C we also raise the Total-C so more is worse??? That makes no sense... it can't be both :!:

If your HDL-C went up (likely with improved BGs, losing weight, and physical activity) that could explain an increased Total-C.

Now consider the major component of Total-C which is LDL-C... the given LDL-C value is a calculated volume and does not take into account that LDL-C comes in different sized particles with the small dense ones being seen as 300% higher risk than the large buoyant ones -- think about 100 tennis balls vs 100 beach balls... the 100 beach ball type LDL-C particles take up more space (volume) and so would give you an higher LDL-C number... now imagine someone was throwing them at your windows... which type would you prefer?

Here is a PDF (USA units used) that discusses LDL particle size... http://www.centerforpreventivemedicine.com/04114med_messenger.pdf

In short, you really need to focus on HDL-C and Triglycerides rather than LDL-C or Total-C

And if you are trying a low carb diet it seems to be fairly usual that for the first few months the LDL-C does tend to rise... but this may well be related to the particle sizes changing from small dense (300% higher risk) to large buoyant, as discussed above.
 
Thanks for this, Pianoman. My doctor doesn't really believe in informing or empowering the patient and the information I've got only relates to the total figure. I will go and see her and try to get the full picture. Unfortunately, if the past is any guide, the discussion is likely to be dominated by her telling me that I really must take statins, and me refusing. Still, I'm an experienced manager. I need to come up with a better meeting strategy! ;-)
 
Good luck. Yes you really need to try and take ownership of your own "numbers". You might consider printing off the PDF I linked above and taking it along. You'd need to convert the values from mg/dl to mmol/L. It discusses a blood test which does measure LDL-C particle size, although I am not sure if it is available in the UK... I'm sure the technology exists, but it may be a question of policy... and right now policy seems more geared towards profits for the statin makers, and don't ask any awkward or logical questions like the ones I posed above.

---

The numbers I use for conversion in these cases are:

Triglycerides mmol/L divided by 0.01129 to get mg/dl
HDL-C mmol/L divided by 0.0259 to get mg/dl
LDL-C mmol/L divided by 0.0259 to get mg/dl
 
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