[ant hill]

Originally Posted by Jan B

FYI . . . . My A1c went from 8 to 6.1 with low carbing . . . . . .

Yay!!!

BUT, I got a major shock yesterday. My last cholesterol test about 4 months ago was a total of 141 (HDL 59, LDL 69); yesterday I found out my current total is 274. (Kidney function did not change. They call it "stable".) They did not tell me what triglycerides were . . . it was 66 last time (supposed to be under 150). Before this, I've never had a total cholesterol over 170.

I'm sorry Jan, We try so hard do we?

HDL should be 50 or higher -- mine is 92 (was 59)
LDL should be, well they said 130 or less (even better under 100) and mine is 170 (was 69)

The comment from the nurse was, better start taking your Zocor (I had quit). Before the 141 total cholesterol, I had only sporadically been taking the Zocor.

You are like me Jan as I was to take Zocor and decided not to take it.

Originally Posted by BlueSky

Jan,

It is not unusual for LDL to increase after starting a low carb diet. This a temporary adjustment. As you become fat adapted, LDL settles down and returns to its pre-low carb levels. It takes up to 6 months but can be much quicker. This happened with me and seems to be the general experience at these low-carb forums (you know thw ones I mean ...). Persisting with a low-carb diet will improve your lipid profile, not that there was anything wrong with it in the first place.

Thankyou BlueSky. The way to go "Low carbing"

Low carbing has boosted your HDL from 59 to 92, which is great. It pretty much counteracts the increase in LDL as far as heart disease risk is concerned, anyway. Your risk ratio (TC/HDL) is 3.0, which is way below the maximum guideline of 4.5. According to this indicator, which has a much stronger predictive value than LDL, your heart disease risk is extremely low. You have nothing to worry about. You certainly don't need to take Zocor.

That's very interesting to see that there is a lot of variation to the fact that doctors generalize the notion that as you get older to take such drugs.

your triglycerides work out to 60 ((274-170-92)*5), which is good. Keep up the good work, and don't panic!

BlueSky, What are the values to this calculation. And thanks.

Originally Posted by fgummett

I was also wondering what kind of fats: healthy like EVOO, Avocado, Nuts, Salmon... or just general fats as a a result of eating more protein/meats..?

I am on the belief that plant fats are better for you than animal fats so I could easily live in Canada!!

Originally Posted by Jan B

I'm not eating hardly any starches (actually none), but eat lots of green vegetables, especially spinach and other greens.

And that's what I need to do to eat more of the bright colored stuff.

Originally Posted by fgummett

Many thanks Jan and BlueSky... plenty for me to chew on

Heh, Me too Frank.

Originally Posted by kidvid

Statins are a proven answer. Why contrive another solution?

Joe

If we can do without drugs and their side affects the better off we are as the mouth is so designed to eat food, Not drugs.