Low Carb for 9 months -- Good Results, bad LDL

My blood sugar was last measured at 102 (after eating though) and the doctor
was very pleased. It had started at nearly 200 over a year ago. And my A1C
is down from 10.6 to 4.6.

What is your A1C like?

doug

On 5/14/04 1:13 PM, in article
, "Frequent Flyer"
wrote:

Any advice or similar experience with LDL and Blood Sugar levels?

My LDL stays high no matter what I eat, however, my HDL goes way up when I
cut carbs. And some sophisticated testing I got as part of a study showed
that my LDL is the "large fluffy" variant that is associated with longevity.

That said, some people do not see their cholesterol go down on a low carb
diet, though most do.

If your HDL is under 65 too, you could try cutting way back on saturated
fat for a few months as you continue to low carb and see if that helps
before you commit to a lifetime of extremely expensive drugs. That's the
premise of the GO diet which is out in a new book, "The Four Corners Diet."

-- Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes,
hba1c 5.4.
Cut the carbs to respond to my email address!

Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes,
strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at
http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/

Looking for help controlling your blood sugar?
Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/...0Diagnosed.htm



"Frequent Flyer" wrote in message
m...
Hi All,

I have been on the low carb for 9 months and have lost around 80 pounds.
I
still have 20 pounds to go.

However, my LDL has risen slowly but consistently over the time and when I
went for my 3 month checkup, my LDL was at 145.

The other unsual thing is that my Glucose was at 102.

This puzzles me as I win to the doctor on Monday morning and had no
breakfast. I had not had anything to eat for 12 hours. I have no sugar
in
my diet and stay away from things with Malitol also.

My doctor is giving me some samples of some medication to lower my LDL
which
I have to pick up tomorrow.

Any advice or similar experience with LDL and Blood Sugar levels?

Thanks,
FF

To make any reasonable judgement on cholesterol, you need all the
numbers, not just one component.

I don't think it's unusual to see higher numbers while continuing to
actively lose weight on LC. If your profile isn't real bad and hasn't
been that way for sometime, I'd give it more time before resorting to
meds.

I've seen mine go from about 240 total, having crept up slowly over
many years. Six months into Atkins, it was over 300. But my HDL has
always been high. I added Niacin, which seemed to help, lowering it
to 280. Then, I added Cholestoff and fiber. Cholestofff contains
plant sterols, the same stuff that's in Benecol margarine and other
similar products. I used sugar free Metamucil for the fiber. Net
result is I'm down to 208 total, 90HDL. So, I'm quite happy. How
much is due to any one strategy, or the fact that I had dropped 40
pounds and my weight loss slowed, is hard to say.

I'd give the Cholestoff and Fiber a shot, especially if you're paying
for it. If you want to take Niacin, you need to work with your doctor
and have periodic blood work done, as it can have liver side effects,
just like the statins.

In any case, the effects of chol take decades, so if you take a more
conservative approach for awhile, the risk is still very low.

My blood sugar was normally 80-85 and my LDL was around 90 right before I
started low carb.

My HDL is currently 38 while it used be in the mid 50s.

I have decided against the Lipitor (spelling?).

I am going to try and increase my exercise and try some fiber supplements
and see how that goes.

After doing some research, it does not appear that having 145 LDL is any
immediate health risk.

I am hoping after I lose the 20 pounds remaining and go into the maintenance
stage that I keep my LDL and HDL at reasonable levels.

I purchased a blood sugar kit from Eckereds and when I tested it this
morning, it was at 78.

FF


"Ignoramus32552" wrote in message
...
What is your HDand what was your blood glucose before you started
dieting?

i

In article , Frequent
Flyer wrote:
Hi All,

I have been on the low carb for 9 months and have lost around 80 pounds.
I
still have 20 pounds to go.

However, my LDL has risen slowly but consistently over the time and when
I
went for my 3 month checkup, my LDL was at 145.

The other unsual thing is that my Glucose was at 102.

This puzzles me as I win to the doctor on Monday morning and had no
breakfast. I had not had anything to eat for 12 hours. I have no sugar
in
my diet and stay away from things with Malitol also.

My doctor is giving me some samples of some medication to lower my LDL
which
I have to pick up tomorrow.

Any advice or similar experience with LDL and Blood Sugar levels?

Thanks,
FF




--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

char*p="char*p=%c%s%c;main(){printf(p,34,p,34);}"; main(){printf(p,34,p,34);}
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."

"Frequent Flyer" wrote in message
m...
Hi All,

I have been on the low carb for 9 months and have lost around 80 pounds.
I
still have 20 pounds to go.

However, my LDL has risen slowly but consistently over the time and when I
went for my 3 month checkup, my LDL was at 145.

The other unsual thing is that my Glucose was at 102.

This puzzles me as I win to the doctor on Monday morning and had no
breakfast. I had not had anything to eat for 12 hours. I have no sugar
in
my diet and stay away from things with Malitol also.

My doctor is giving me some samples of some medication to lower my LDL
which
I have to pick up tomorrow.

Any advice or similar experience with LDL and Blood Sugar levels?

Thanks,
FF

DON'T worry about the LDL number! Certainly don't start on any drug regime
unless it is a last resort!

Read this lengthy article

http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/oiling.html

See what a crock of **** the whole magic number that you MUST get below as
far as total cholesterol is!

Remember that cholesterol is NEEDED by the body. It is the ambulance at the
bottom of the cliff waiting to effect repairs at cell level.

Any Doctor that talks about "good and bad cholesterol" is not up with the
latest play. Anyone Dr who gives "free" samples of the statins is just
trying to get you hooked on this expensive drug! He gets a "cut" or "gift"
for everyone who starts in on these!

You are doing fine with weight loss and sugar control. Keep that up and
stay away from the drugs!

Frenchy

"Frequent Flyer" wrote in message
m...
Hi All,

I have been on the low carb for 9 months and have lost around 80 pounds.
I
still have 20 pounds to go.

However, my LDL has risen slowly but consistently over the time and when I
went for my 3 month checkup, my LDL was at 145.

The other unsual thing is that my Glucose was at 102.

This puzzles me as I win to the doctor on Monday morning and had no
breakfast. I had not had anything to eat for 12 hours. I have no sugar
in
my diet and stay away from things with Malitol also.

My doctor is giving me some samples of some medication to lower my LDL
which
I have to pick up tomorrow.

You might want to check Pubmed for the studies on various statin drugs.
If you have not had a heart attack or stroke and have no other immediate
risk factors, there is no compelling reason to take these drugs, yet there
are possible adverse side effects.

Alan


Any advice or similar experience with LDL and Blood Sugar levels?

Thanks,
FF

In article ,
"Alan Wright" alanatyahoodotcom wrote:

"Frequent Flyer" wrote in message
m...
Hi All,

I have been on the low carb for 9 months and have lost around 80 pounds.
I
still have 20 pounds to go.

However, my LDL has risen slowly but consistently over the time and when I
went for my 3 month checkup, my LDL was at 145.

The other unsual thing is that my Glucose was at 102.

This puzzles me as I win to the doctor on Monday morning and had no
breakfast. I had not had anything to eat for 12 hours. I have no sugar
in
my diet and stay away from things with Malitol also.

My doctor is giving me some samples of some medication to lower my LDL
which
I have to pick up tomorrow.

You might want to check Pubmed for the studies on various statin drugs.
If you have not had a heart attack or stroke and have no other immediate
risk factors, there is no compelling reason to take these drugs, yet there
are possible adverse side effects.

It's also the ratios that are more important than the raw numbers.
What's the OP's triglycerides/HDL ratio?

Priscilla

"Frenchy" wrote in message ...
"Frequent Flyer" wrote in message
m...
Hi All,

I have been on the low carb for 9 months and have lost around 80 pounds.
I
still have 20 pounds to go.

However, my LDL has risen slowly but consistently over the time and when I
went for my 3 month checkup, my LDL was at 145.

The other unsual thing is that my Glucose was at 102.

This puzzles me as I win to the doctor on Monday morning and had no
breakfast. I had not had anything to eat for 12 hours. I have no sugar
in
my diet and stay away from things with Malitol also.

My doctor is giving me some samples of some medication to lower my LDL
which
I have to pick up tomorrow.

Any advice or similar experience with LDL and Blood Sugar levels?

Thanks,
FF

DON'T worry about the LDL number! Certainly don't start on any drug regime
unless it is a last resort!

Read this lengthy article

http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/oiling.html

See what a crock of **** the whole magic number that you MUST get below as
far as total cholesterol is!

Remember that cholesterol is NEEDED by the body. It is the ambulance at the
bottom of the cliff waiting to effect repairs at cell level.

Indeed. This article points to functions of LDL that none of the
anti-cholesterol lemmings knows about or cares to mention:

http://qjmed.oupjournals.org/cgi/con...tE&keytype=ref

"kvs" wrote in message
om...
"Frenchy" wrote in message
...
"Frequent Flyer" wrote in message
m...
Hi All,

I have been on the low carb for 9 months and have lost around 80
pounds.
I
still have 20 pounds to go.

However, my LDL has risen slowly but consistently over the time and
when I
went for my 3 month checkup, my LDL was at 145.

The other unsual thing is that my Glucose was at 102.

This puzzles me as I win to the doctor on Monday morning and had no
breakfast. I had not had anything to eat for 12 hours. I have no
sugar
in
my diet and stay away from things with Malitol also.

My doctor is giving me some samples of some medication to lower my LDL
which
I have to pick up tomorrow.

Any advice or similar experience with LDL and Blood Sugar levels?

Thanks,
FF

DON'T worry about the LDL number! Certainly don't start on any drug
regime
unless it is a last resort!

Read this lengthy article

http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/oiling.html

See what a crock of **** the whole magic number that you MUST get below
as
far as total cholesterol is!

Remember that cholesterol is NEEDED by the body. It is the ambulance at
the
bottom of the cliff waiting to effect repairs at cell level.

Indeed. This article points to functions of LDL that none of the
anti-cholesterol lemmings knows about or cares to mention:


http://qjmed.oupjournals.org/cgi/con...tE&keytype=ref

VERY TRUE! Good article, a bit technical but huge reference list to back up
the findings.

Every time I hear of someone being put on statins, solely to lower
cholesterol, I want to shake them sensible!

And their quacks (I will not call them Doctors!)

Frenchy

"Jenny" wrote in message ...
My LDL stays high no matter what I eat, however, my HDL goes way up when I
cut carbs. And some sophisticated testing I got as part of a study showed
that my LDL is the "large fluffy" variant that is associated with longevity.

That said, some people do not see their cholesterol go down on a low carb
diet, though most do.

If your HDL is under 65 too, you could try cutting way back on saturated
fat for a few months as you continue to low carb and see if that helps

It should be noted that the reason why polyunsaturated fat consumption
"lowers" LDL is that the LDL is diverted to cell membranes to
re-inforce them. Polyunsaturated fat intake changes the mechanical
properties of various cell structures. In addition, the studies that
pointed to LDL as the supposed causative agent of heart disease fed
labratory animals or people powdered LDL which is basically oxidized.
Details such as this coupled with the findings of the massive
Framingham study puts the "bad cholesterol" obsession into the realm
of quackery.

Apparently statin drugs do help with heart disease but the mechanism
by which they do this has not been established and they happen to be
carcinogenic.