PollyAnn
08-16-2006, 11:21 AM
You usually find me posting on the Diabetes threads but now I'm here (sadly):confused: I have worked hard this past year and my recent Diabetic A1C was 5.0. Great! I thought!
Well, with that same blood work I had my cholesterol tested and it was way off track. I even tested a week later to see if it wasn't a lab error and my numbers are:
Chol: 257
Tri: 189
HDL: 43
LDL: 177
Ratio: 6.0
I don't understand when I have learned so well what is 'good food' for me that my Cholesterol numbers would be so bad.
Anyone battling Diabetic's and Cholesterol issues like this?
PollyAnn
Well, with that same blood work I had my cholesterol tested and it was way off track. I even tested a week later to see if it wasn't a lab error and my numbers are:
Chol: 257
Tri: 189
HDL: 43
LDL: 177
Ratio: 6.0
I don't understand when I have learned so well what is 'good food' for me that my Cholesterol numbers would be so bad.
Anyone battling Diabetic's and Cholesterol issues like this?
PollyAnn
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LauraBow
08-16-2006, 03:10 PM
What were your numbers before? I find that a low carb diet that keeps my blood sugar in line also keeps my cholesterol results low.
PollyAnn
08-16-2006, 04:19 PM
I'll have to look for my past numbers but I know they were never a concern because they were just about where they should be.
I eat a healthy low-cab diet (watched carb's as I call it) that's clear to see by my A1C of 5.0. My diet consist of foods such as organic steel cut oats w/flaxseed, and heart healthy supplements (Hawthrone Berry, Black Cohosh, Cayenne, Policosanol, Artichoke ect...).
My doctor is also baffled over the Cholesterol numbers since my glucose is in such great control through diet ALONE (no diabetic meds.). He wants me to test again in 4 weeks. And he also thinks these numbers are somehow wrong....:dizzy:
PollyAnn
I eat a healthy low-cab diet (watched carb's as I call it) that's clear to see by my A1C of 5.0. My diet consist of foods such as organic steel cut oats w/flaxseed, and heart healthy supplements (Hawthrone Berry, Black Cohosh, Cayenne, Policosanol, Artichoke ect...).
My doctor is also baffled over the Cholesterol numbers since my glucose is in such great control through diet ALONE (no diabetic meds.). He wants me to test again in 4 weeks. And he also thinks these numbers are somehow wrong....:dizzy:
PollyAnn
Mark1e
08-16-2006, 05:55 PM
I am also a diabetic and watch these numbers closely. A low-carb diet will reduce those triglycerides and increase your HDL. So the TC/HDL ratio should come right down. Your blood sugar is very good. But a low-carb diet will also slow down the progression of insulin resistance, which is a stronger predictor of heart disease than cholesterol anyway.
Cheers,
Mark :)
Cheers,
Mark :)
PollyAnn
08-17-2006, 10:19 AM
:eek: I have been eating strict low carb for over a year and I evaluate everything I put in my mouth. If I lower my carb's anymore then I would be eating NO carb's and that's not for me. But thanks anyway Mark1e.
lane413
08-17-2006, 11:35 PM
:eek: I have been eating strict low carb for over a year and I evaluate everything I put in my mouth. If I lower my carb's anymore then I would be eating NO carb's and that's not for me. But thanks anyway Mark1e.
My mom's cholesterol numbers are almost like yours and she is dabetic as well. She just started the south beach diet. Her a1c is higher than yours 8.0, but that is bcuz she was on diuretics and clonidine for blood pressure. she just started taking cholest-off and had a new blood work drawn yesterday.
I know it can be difficult to find out you have another medical problem when fighting diabetes, but hang in there.My mom was eating right and exercising daily, but her cholesterol and glucose rose dangerously. Then one day while waiting to see the dr, she read an article that said some meds can cause a rise in glucose and cholesterol. Once she stopped the meds, her cholesterol dropped from 337 to 243 and glucose dropped from 12.0 to 8.0. Maybe som of your meds (if you take meds) or something caused the problem.
It is worth looking into and good luck.
My mom's cholesterol numbers are almost like yours and she is dabetic as well. She just started the south beach diet. Her a1c is higher than yours 8.0, but that is bcuz she was on diuretics and clonidine for blood pressure. she just started taking cholest-off and had a new blood work drawn yesterday.
I know it can be difficult to find out you have another medical problem when fighting diabetes, but hang in there.My mom was eating right and exercising daily, but her cholesterol and glucose rose dangerously. Then one day while waiting to see the dr, she read an article that said some meds can cause a rise in glucose and cholesterol. Once she stopped the meds, her cholesterol dropped from 337 to 243 and glucose dropped from 12.0 to 8.0. Maybe som of your meds (if you take meds) or something caused the problem.
It is worth looking into and good luck.
Lenin
08-18-2006, 10:16 AM
PollyAnn,
Despite what the low-carb boosters say about a high fat diet, it is nonetheless disastrous for most people's blood lipids as it is for yours.
I sympathize with diabetics who have to choose which disease to treat to the detriment of the other, and probably some middle line might be a fair idea. Maybe something like:
Low glycemic carbs...legumes, nuts and whole grains but no sugars, fruits, cakes and the like.
Mono and poly unsaturated vegetable fats instead of meat and butterfat.
A tough road that might give a middle ground where both conditions can be controlled a bit.
But while a diet of bacon, cheese, butter, steak and eggs might be the perfect ketogenic diet for diabetes, it is a DISASTER for blood lipids and the attendant horrors of heart disease. And a completely non-fat diet except for perhaps a tsp. of essential fatty acids daily would be superb for blood lipids but a total mess for blood glucose.
Tough choices for those that must make them.
Despite what the low-carb boosters say about a high fat diet, it is nonetheless disastrous for most people's blood lipids as it is for yours.
I sympathize with diabetics who have to choose which disease to treat to the detriment of the other, and probably some middle line might be a fair idea. Maybe something like:
Low glycemic carbs...legumes, nuts and whole grains but no sugars, fruits, cakes and the like.
Mono and poly unsaturated vegetable fats instead of meat and butterfat.
A tough road that might give a middle ground where both conditions can be controlled a bit.
But while a diet of bacon, cheese, butter, steak and eggs might be the perfect ketogenic diet for diabetes, it is a DISASTER for blood lipids and the attendant horrors of heart disease. And a completely non-fat diet except for perhaps a tsp. of essential fatty acids daily would be superb for blood lipids but a total mess for blood glucose.
Tough choices for those that must make them.
PollyAnn
08-18-2006, 12:08 PM
Thanks for the encouragement and I'm still looking for answers to help my situation.
lane413: I wish your mom the best because it's tough controlling everything without something going bonkers. NO, I don't take any medications of any kind but I do take a good amount of supplements and looking to change them a bit - maybe they don't work as well for me anymore. :confused: but they have helped tremendously for my diabetes control.
Lenin: I'm a big 'research type' person so when I was told I was diabetic I took it upon myself to read every diabetic, low carb plan, supplements book and medical journal available. Personally, I found issues with all but still keep the granted knowledge to incorporate into my lifestyle. For sure a diet of bacon, cheese, butter, steak and eggs is NO way for me. Never was before and I'm no way comfortable adding it now. I have been eating for the past year to gain control of my diabetes and somehow it off set my cholesterol (I think) but now just as I educated myself on being a diabetic - I am doing the same to gain cholesterol control. BUT as I titled this thread - It's a balancing act!
PollyAnn
lane413: I wish your mom the best because it's tough controlling everything without something going bonkers. NO, I don't take any medications of any kind but I do take a good amount of supplements and looking to change them a bit - maybe they don't work as well for me anymore. :confused: but they have helped tremendously for my diabetes control.
Lenin: I'm a big 'research type' person so when I was told I was diabetic I took it upon myself to read every diabetic, low carb plan, supplements book and medical journal available. Personally, I found issues with all but still keep the granted knowledge to incorporate into my lifestyle. For sure a diet of bacon, cheese, butter, steak and eggs is NO way for me. Never was before and I'm no way comfortable adding it now. I have been eating for the past year to gain control of my diabetes and somehow it off set my cholesterol (I think) but now just as I educated myself on being a diabetic - I am doing the same to gain cholesterol control. BUT as I titled this thread - It's a balancing act!
PollyAnn