How fast things change!! - High Cholesterol Message Board

drummer1 · 08-17-2004, 07:17 AM

Up until I got the blood work results last week I thought everything was fine with my health! In one day that all changed, Im glad I got the numbers mixed up,Made me feel a little better about myself.Then last night the doctor calls me and tells me that because I have a 24hdl and a high trig.339 that its called "metobolic syndrom" and that puts me in danger of diabetes down the road if I dont completly change my eating habits, I was shocked at this news,I had no Idea cholestorol had anything to do with diabetes.My mom has type 2 but I never thought anything about it.The good news is that he said I have a lot of power to change this on my own by cutting out lots of carbs and starchy foods.He did however tell me that I can keep my one cup of coffee in the morning.I guess the bottom line is that age creeps up fast,At 38 I still had a little bit of that "invinsible feeling"Like I did when I was younger,not the case.I am going to try and exercise as he suggested and eat different,Im thinking about going on atkins,I went out last night and baught flax-seed oil pills-fish oil pills-Bcomplex..etc....After spending about 80 bucks on the vitamins I hope the stuff has some benifit.I am also in the last few days becoming obsesed with cholestorol numbers,its driving me crazy,I hope that lets up,So hopefully I can lose 20lbs and eat healthier and avoid diabetes.Im glad I found this board for support and help,Its amazing to me how acurate everything you say is! Its exaclty what the doctor says and more! How do you guys know so much!!! I hope all of you will continue to help me by giving me tips on diet and suplements,Thanks for being there!

Bill

ZippyDawg · 08-17-2004, 09:53 AM

Type 2 diabetes is a is an inability to control the glucose level in the blood due to insulin resistance or a lack of insulin. Abnormal lipid levels (low HDL & elevated triglycerides) are usually present when someone is diagnosed with T2 diabetes.

Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X is a precursor to Type 2 diabetes and is defined as:

From the American Heart Association:

* Central obesity (excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen)
* Atherogenic dyslipidemia (blood fat disorders — mainly high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol — that foster plaque buildups in artery walls)
* Raised blood pressure (130/85 mmHg or higher)
* Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance (the body can’t properly use insulin or blood sugar)
* Prothrombotic state (e.g., high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor [–1] in the blood)
* Proinflammatory state (e.g., elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in the blood)

The underlying causes of this syndrome are overweight/obesity, physical inactivity and genetic factors. People with the metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of coronary heart disease, other diseases related to plaque buildups in artery walls (e.g., stroke and peripheral vascular disease) and type 2 diabetes.

Weight loss, daily aerobic exercise and following a restricted carb diet can reverse Syndrome X. I am living proof of that. Three 1/2 years ago I had excess abdominal fat, elevated BP, elevated resting pulse, elevated glucose, high triglycerides (over 600) and low HDL (29). Today I have a 32" waist, 110/70 BP, 60 RP, normal fasting glucose, TG - 58, HDL - 50).

You are fortunate that you have identified the problem at an early age and before you developed T2 diabetes. As I said it can be done. The real benefit to you is not the numbers on a lab report. I can't tell you how much better I feel now as compared to 3 1/2 years ago.

NineLives · 08-17-2004, 03:28 PM

I believe I read somewhere that if your waist is over 36 inches you are at risk of type 2 diabetes. That puts a lot of Americans at risk. You know Drummer you are lucky that your cholesterol numbers is what made you realize that you may not be in as good as shape as you thought. Now you can work on changing it before you have a coronary event. When I was 41 and found out I had heart blockage and needed a stent I thought I was in excellent health. My doctor did too. He couldn't believe that I had a heart blockage. Try not to be overly anxious about numbers. Just try to start making those lifestyle changes and I think you will see some of that anxiety go away. My little brother has cruddy lipid levels and a really low HDL (23). He just went through a cath and his arteries are clear. The numbers don't tell the whole story. There are other factors such as inflammation in the arteries that play a key role in CAD.