I am a newly diagnosed diabetic (t2) and I just got my blood test results back. I am also just starting Low Carb and my husband and I plan to start induction this weekend (after grocery shopping). I have 2 questions..I am new so I don't know what I am doing and trying to learn a lot at once. After reading a few posts, I am sooo scared about my triglycerides.
1. Will low carbing bring these down?
2. I did not fast for this blood test, does that make a big difference?

Thanks for any help and direction you might give me.

Here are my stats:
Total Cholesterol 225
triglycerides 739
HDL 25
LDL N/A
Chol/HDL Ratio-BJH 9.0

My doctor is extremely worried about triglycerides and wants to put me on more medication, on top of the diabetic, and high blood pressure meds. I don't want any more meds. Will low carbing bring this down?

Thanks,
Apryl

1. Yes definitely. I think I heard it'll come down about 25% every 3 months or so.
2. Yes, you need to fast for cholesterol test. Triglycerides in particular are much higher after eating.

Don't take statins. Ask your doctor what the NNT is for women and statins... if he's honest and informed, he'll probably confess that statins do nothing in women and really only work in men who are under 65 and have had a heart attack already.

Here's a blog you should read, start to finish preferably, it'll tell you what to do to correct your cholesterol and monitor your real heart disease risk, although you're already on a good start if you're going low carb: http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com

My high tryglycerides (not as high as yours but maybe in the 500's) dropped like a stone on lo-carb. After 1 month they were down to say 165 and after 3 months 135.

We measure cholesterol differently here but I think 5.0 or 5.5 is considered acceptable. Mine dropped from 7.0 to 5.5 in one month and moved down a little more after 3 months. Over 3 months, LDL dropped 25% and HDL rose slightly.

I was worried it wasnt too good. When I went to the specialist recently she put me on BP meds at 145/94 and was talking statins until she read through the test results and said - Wow, you've done a fabulous job getting these lipids etc down. Then she said I dont think you'll need the statins after all.

I didnt take my BP meds but my BP has recently risen so I have decided that I need to take the meds and work on fitness and diet and supplements to get my BP down to a good low level and then I can start to wean myself off.

BTW - LoCarb really works for diabetes. I am now at 5.5 A1c (got there in 3 months) and am not on any meds.

Do it - its tough to start but after a while it becomes second nature and it makes you much healthier.

Thank you both for your fast replies. My a1c currently is 7.8 and I am working on lowering that too! I hope to get a lot from this website! ( I already have!)

I don't know your age, but your HDL is also quite low. That should also improve on a low-carb diet and with weight loss.

Were your thyroid levels tested?

hi Apryl-
welcome to the wonderful world of LC!
If I can give you some advice-

READ A BOOK! Don't do this WOL by the seat of your pants or a magazine article or even this site! Please read the book/plan of your choice.

STICK TO THE PLAN! Given your health issues, to really see results the closer you stick to the plan the better your health will be! You will be amazed- really!

POST POST POST! This site is a fantastic resource- and posting helps a lot!

E

April - my Hba1c was 7.8 when I started as well. It will drop like a stone.

The first two weeks are the hardest, after that it is easier. Many, many, many people lose weight very quickly on 30/40gms C a day. I hoard fat and have to live on 20C a day long term if I want to lose weight. I have had to accept that I cant eat all the sweets I used to but despite this, with the help of some fabulous recipes, I can eat lo-carb biscuits/ muffins and desserts and enjoy the food. If I had another 10 carbs a day like most people, I could live like a king. So the first three weeks are a bit hard, you have to retrain yourself and your body will make you feel diabolical for anywhere between 2 days and 12 days. But when you get through it, you will fill more energetic, sleep less and if you are like me, feel generally more clearheaded.

I am a person who hates to cook and to enjoy lo-carb you will need to probably but its something else you get used to and believe me, there is nothing like having a divine dessert that you've made yourself and marvel at how fabulous it tastes and say to yourself - this is lo carb and I am eating this and losing weight!! You'll never miss store bought food again (so bland)and if you are a bread fiend, just go to Kevin Pa's journal here and you'll have recipes aplenty to make your own bread and rolls. Bread and rolls that look like and taste like real white bread!!

So dont be daunted - I am fat and lazy (seriously) and if I can do it, it isnt all that hard!