Need to lower cholesterol and glucose levels, please help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you just need to accept that you need a statin. Sometimes high cholesterol is just hereditary and there’s not much you can do to improve it. My sister is a vegetarian and a (fast!) marathon runner who has always had high cholesterol. Like even in her 20s. She’s not yet 40 and is on a low dose of a statin. She eats basically no white carbs, almost no dairy. Tons and tons of fish and beans and veggies and fruit and whole grains. Runs 4-6 marathons a year.

+1

You are already doing the lifestyle things that could reduce your cholesterol. If those aren't doing it, a statin will. The longer you delay, the longer you are laying down plaque and that is generally not reversible.

[Anonymous]

OP what was your total cholesterol number? How about your other numbers?

I have high cholesterol genetics too and I’m
At 209 now and doctors weren’t worried. My other numbers are excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t fear a statin. Some people just need them.

My blood sugar has gone way up since starting a statin.

Right. That's what happens.

Sometimes. Not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

OP here. These were my results below. I really appreciate you all sharing your knowledge, thank you.

A1C - 5.3
Total cholesterol - 194
Triglycerides - 109
LDL - 124
Non HDL - 146
Fasting Glucose - 99

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. These were my results below. I really appreciate you all sharing your knowledge, thank you.

A1C - 5.3
Total cholesterol - 194
Triglycerides - 109
LDL - 124
Non HDL - 146
Fasting Glucose - 99

Again, 46 year female with family history of diabetes. One parent adopted so no history from that side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to lower your glucose, this will do it:
Eat only protein (chicken breast and fish) and non-starchy vegetables. Eat healthy fat with every meal (nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil) so that you won't get hungry. Eat nuts or vegetables for in between meal snacks.

Read the book The Sugar Solution 10 Day Detox for complete details of this diet. I do not eat coconut butter because I am not certain it doesn't clog your arteries in spite of what the author claims. I take fiber before every meal (Benefiber) in a tall glass of water and I take vitamins.

What to avoid:

sugar
gluten
beans
flour of any type including gluten free
dairy
processed foods of any kind
fruit other than 1/2 cup berries a day

This is a miserable existence. I understand cutting out a lot of things, but this is just extreme. I don't eat flour, pasta, rice, sugar. I even cut out all dairy except for the splash of HC in my coffee and little parmesan grated on my shiratake noodles, but I will eat every kind of fruit and things like sweet potatoes and raw carrots. I'm not spending my life just eating like eight raspberries. I do OMAD and I don't feel deprived, because I have my meal with a fruit/veg smoothie

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to lower your glucose, this will do it:
Eat only protein (chicken breast and fish) and non-starchy vegetables. Eat healthy fat with every meal (nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil) so that you won't get hungry. Eat nuts or vegetables for in between meal snacks.

Read the book The Sugar Solution 10 Day Detox for complete details of this diet. I do not eat coconut butter because I am not certain it doesn't clog your arteries in spite of what the author claims. I take fiber before every meal (Benefiber) in a tall glass of water and I take vitamins.

What to avoid:

sugar
gluten
beans
rice
flour of any type including gluten free
dairy
processed foods of any kind
fruit other than 1/2 cup berries a day

sounds great in theory, and i used to eat like that and it sent my cholesterol through the roof. Only way i can naturally manage my cholesterol is through a mostly vegan, occasionally vegetarian diet. i have to closely watch my avocado and nut intake. sadly those are treats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to lower your glucose, this will do it:
Eat only protein (chicken breast and fish) and non-starchy vegetables. Eat healthy fat with every meal (nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil) so that you won't get hungry. Eat nuts or vegetables for in between meal snacks.

Read the book The Sugar Solution 10 Day Detox for complete details of this diet. I do not eat coconut butter because I am not certain it doesn't clog your arteries in spite of what the author claims. I take fiber before every meal (Benefiber) in a tall glass of water and I take vitamins.

What to avoid:

sugar
gluten
beans
rice
flour of any type including gluten free
dairy
processed foods of any kind
fruit other than 1/2 cup berries a day

How do you explain me then? I eat rice, gluten, fruit, all kind of fruit, even dates. Heck, I eat apples and peaches and grapes all the time. I eat fruit pies, I make them though, I eat bread and meat and wheat. I am 53 and not even close to prediabetic, in fact perfect sugar levels and no cholesterol other than good HDL.

How about….You’re living in a different body than the other posters?

How about you are making no sense? If we are all different then your suggestion for diet for OP makes no sense, zero logic. If OP has a different body than me and you, why is your dietary rec going to help her? You suggestion is that she needs to eat differently, yet there is no proof that your diet will lower her sugar of cholesterol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. These were my results below. I really appreciate you all sharing your knowledge, thank you.

A1C - 5.3
Total cholesterol - 194
Triglycerides - 109
LDL - 124
Non HDL - 146
Fasting Glucose - 99

The cholesterol numbers are not perfect but none of this is alarming. What gave you the idea that any of this is so problematic?

For example, if you went this morning it’s entirely possible your fasting glucose number even after a similar fast could be higher or lower. That’s why the A1C value is there. You are below pre diabetes.

More low aerobic cardio might help with the cholesterol numbers, but it might not. I don’t see how any of this is statin territory anyways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My eating is really healthy, tons of veggies, beans, fish once a week, chicken once a week, steel cut oatmeal, quinoa, lots of nuts. No processed foods except for tortilla chips and popocorn which I eat a handful of times a week, but no sweets.

there are non-statin medications you can try.
But if all your other labs are good, high cholesterol is not necessarily a huge concern.
Some of it is just genetics.
I've always had high cholesterol; but not until my A1C reached diabetes levels were doctors concerned and prescribed lipitor. It made me lightheaded and I didn't want to stay on a statin long term. After I lost a little weight and my A1C came down, they were not concerned about the heart risks and were fine discontinuing the cholesterol medication. My cholesterol went right back up, of course, despite continuing healthier eating and exercise. It's the triglycerides and other stuff that are more important than the cholesterol level alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My eating is really healthy, tons of veggies, beans, fish once a week, chicken once a week, steel cut oatmeal, quinoa, lots of nuts. No processed foods except for tortilla chips and popocorn which I eat a handful of times a week, but no sweets.

I could see the problem right here.

Not enough meat , too many carbs .

Tortilla chips, popcorn, oatmeal, quinoa , beans, veggies , are all carbs.

I wouldn't count veggies. Potatoes are very high carbs; but beans and vegetables are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. These were my results below. I really appreciate you all sharing your knowledge, thank you.

A1C - 5.3
Total cholesterol - 194
Triglycerides - 109
LDL - 124
Non HDL - 146
Fasting Glucose - 99

The cholesterol numbers are not perfect but none of this is alarming. What gave you the idea that any of this is so problematic?

For example, if you went this morning it’s entirely possible your fasting glucose number even after a similar fast could be higher or lower. That’s why the A1C value is there. You are below pre diabetes.

More low aerobic cardio might help with the cholesterol numbers, but it might not. I don’t see how any of this is statin territory anyways.

I would also get the blood work checked at a different time in the next few months and see if the numbers change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a calcium score test. If your triglycerides are low, it offers a protection against high levels. I have genetic high cholesterol and my calcium score was 0 meaning none of it was sticking to my arterial walls

Good advice.

You seem like you may be increased risk for diabetes since nobody with your lifestyle should have high glucose. So, I’d also try to delay the statin as long as you can since those can trigger diabetes.

Maybe also try a continuous glucose monitor to learn what foods are spiking yours. Maybe you actually need more fat and protein with your carbs.

I was going to suggest this, too. I know it’s the “I’m above fad diets” received wisdom that all fruits and vegetables and whole grains are always good, but certain foods spike some people’s blood sugar.

As estrogen drops in perimenopause, insulin resistance tends to increase. Foods I did fine with previously started to become more of an issue, especially in combination. A CGM took the guess work out. A brisk walk for 15 minutes after meals and getting more sleep also helped. I lowered fasting glucose from 99 down to around 80 in a matter of months. OP, next time you get bloodwork, get fasting insulin checked, optimal is under 5 to avoid issues. Building muscle is also helpful, it is like a sink for glucose in the blood, so, the more the better.

https://happyhormonesforlife.com/insulin-resistance/

The links between insulin resistance and things like mood disorders, some cancers and Alzheimer's were super motivating to me to make changes. What I had thought was "healthy" for me needed adjusting. My hair had been thinning and became thicker and I lost skin tags, that was visible proof of progress before new bloodwork.

This book has a lot of actionable advice. For the male readers, insulin resistance is often linked to ED, so motivation for you, too.

Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease--and How to Fight It

A scientist reveals the groundbreaking evidence linking many major diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease, to a common root cause—insulin resistance—and shares an easy, effective plan to reverse and prevent it.

https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Sick-Epidemic/dp/1953295770/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

This was my experience, too. Walking in the evenings worked much better for me (losing weight-wise and not having bad snacks at night-wise) than earlier in the day; and going to bed an hour earlier, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. These were my results below. I really appreciate you all sharing your knowledge, thank you.

A1C - 5.3
Total cholesterol - 194
Triglycerides - 109
LDL - 124
Non HDL - 146
Fasting Glucose - 99

The cholesterol numbers are not perfect but none of this is alarming. What gave you the idea that any of this is so problematic?

For example, if you went this morning it’s entirely possible your fasting glucose number even after a similar fast could be higher or lower. That’s why the A1C value is there. You are below pre diabetes.

More low aerobic cardio might help with the cholesterol numbers, but it might not. I don’t see how any of this is statin territory anyways.

I agree. cholesterol isn't even 200 and triglycerides aren't very high.
FG 99 is fine.
Is your HDL really that high?
A1C is fine.
What's the problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My eating is really healthy, tons of veggies, beans, fish once a week, chicken once a week, steel cut oatmeal, quinoa, lots of nuts. No processed foods except for tortilla chips and popocorn which I eat a handful of times a week, but no sweets.

there are non-statin medications you can try.
But if all your other labs are good, high cholesterol is not necessarily a huge concern.
Some of it is just genetics.
I've always had high cholesterol; but not until my A1C reached diabetes levels were doctors concerned and prescribed lipitor. It made me lightheaded and I didn't want to stay on a statin long term. After I lost a little weight and my A1C came down, they were not concerned about the heart risks and were fine discontinuing the cholesterol medication. My cholesterol went right back up, of course, despite continuing healthier eating and exercise. It's the triglycerides and other stuff that are more important than the cholesterol level alone.

I wouldn't assume that high cholesterol doesn't matter just because nothing has happened yet. Years of high cholesterol will leave their mark on your arteries, and you won't be able to turn back the clock on that. That said, I would get some more detailed testing, which unfortunately are not standard: get your ApoB (more useful number than cholesterol), LP(a) (important solely genetic type of cholesterol), and get a calcium scan (to see if you already have plaque build-up). Once you know all that, you're better positioned to make the decision about a statin. Also, there are a number of different statins so you can try different ones if you experience side effects. Some people do and some people don't.