The FastDay Forum

So, I just came back from seeing my doctor, my three month diabetes check, and my blood showed slightly elevated cholesterol. He says it would be normal in the general population but because I am diabetic he is concerned. He says I can start a low dose statin or try to lower it through diet and exercise. What would be a proper cholesterol lowering diet. There is so much conflicting info on the net and from the doctor's office. Any help?

[carorees]

So, I just came back from seeing my doctor, my three month diabetes check, and my blood showed slightly elevated cholesterol. He says it would be normal in the general population but because I am diabetic he is concerned. He says I can start a low dose statin or try to lower it through diet and exercise. What would be a proper cholesterol lowering diet. There is so much conflicting info on the net and from the doctor's office. Any help?

Hi @stephd if your levels of total cholesterol are raised you will need more information before deciding whether you need to take any action. If your levels of LDL cholesterol are raised and your HDL cholesterol is low then you might need to take some action. Ideally you will have results for particle numbers and triglycerides in order to know whether there is anything to worry about. Here's some information on different types of cholesterol: the-5-2-lab-f10/progress-cvd-ldl-particle-size-and-insulin-resistance-t12663.html

You should also know that if you went for your blood draw on a fasting day you would expect your cholesterol levels to be up a little as you will be burning fat and in order to get the fat from your fat stores to where it is burned for energy it has to be transported around the blood which your body does by carrying the fat in particles of lipoproteins (the LDLs and HDLs).

The most effective way of improving your blood lipid profile is to lower the amount of carbohydrate in your diet: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19082851
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20089734
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/67/5/828.short
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19364995

@carorees thanks for the info! In the past month I have been doing better on the carb front but will definitely keep a closer eye on it. I don't buy bread only the occasional bagel or bread roll but I do eat potatoes , rice and the occasional pasta dish, that is when I actually make a meal. I am a grazer and a binge eater, not so healthy but I am taking steps to rectify my unhealthy habits. Do I need to watch the bad fats as well? I'm more motivated to go for more walks now too. I've been slacking off in that department for months.

[carorees]

@carorees thanks for the info! In the past month I have been doing better on the carb front but will definitely keep a closer eye on it. I don't buy bread only the occasional bagel or bread roll but I do eat potatoes , rice and the occasional pasta dish, that is when I actually make a meal. I am a grazer and a binge eater, not so healthy but I am taking steps to rectify my unhealthy habits. Do I need to watch the bad fats as well? I'm more motivated to go for more walks now too. I've been slacking off in that department for months.

Depends what you mean by bad fats! There is a lot of confusion over fats still, so the best advice is to try to keep a balance of omega 3 and omega 6 oils (not too much omega 6) and not to worry about saturated fats which don't appear to influence cholesterol levels after all.

Remember that carbohydrate includes sources of sugar as well as the starchy foods. And sugar can be hidden in many prepared foods such as low fat yoghurts and diet foods, savoury soups and sauces and chilled/frozen meals.

Walking is great for lowering blood sugar and improving blood lipids! Get back to it!

And statins do not work for women, if all the information on the net is to be believed (Dr Kendrick et al). Older people seem to need more cholesterol, and higher cholesterol might protect from Alzheimer's. That is the gist of the story that I tend to subscribe to, anyway!

Thanks for all the info. How many carbs in a day is considered a "low-carb diet"? I'm not sure about my LDL and HDL levels, the only thing my doctor said was that my cholesterol was a bit high. I may call the office to get the actual numbers.

It's official! https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/blogs/ic ... 59246.html.