Cholesterol of 8 : Hi. I am 54 year old... - Cholesterol Support

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Cholesterol of 8

weee profile image
weee
19 Replies

Hi. I am 54 year old female, I have coeliacs and have recently been advised that I have 'mild' diabetes and a cholesterol of 8. I'm horrified. I exercise a lot. I cycle about 40 - 50 miles a week, walk as often as I can and am always on the go. I am a little overweight but not horrendously... I could lose a stone say.

My GP has started me on statins and will monitor my blood glucose levels ..

Any advice..

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weee profile image
weee
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19 Replies
Jolyn profile image
Jolyn

Mine was on 9 six weeks ago. I've been put on statins too. I'm going to get my cholesterol down then come off them...I don't want to stay on them with all the bad press there is about them.

DakCB-UK profile image
DakCB-UK in reply toJolyn

Why not see how you go on them first? I'd prefer not to be on them because of my past experience, but if you've already started, why not wait and see, THEN decide?

weee profile image
weee in reply toDakCB-UK

I will, I have been on them for a week now with no ill effects ..

weee profile image
weee

I have to say everything I have read pretty much says the benefit can outweigh the risk. My GP said he knew of recent bad press but given my family history (mum CABG aged 60, her dad died of a heart attack aged 63 and my brother had a CABG aged 49) if he was me he'd want to start statins.

Is simvastatin the best?

I am looking again at my diet but it's pretty good - gluten free of course - but I could go on to skimmed milk and low fat butter etc..

Penel profile image
Penel in reply toweee

Hello Wee

Hope the statins suit you and get the desired effect. Have you had a look at cutting down on carbs, sugar in particular? It can often help, especially if you are borderline diabetic.

weee profile image
weee in reply toPenel

Thank you Penel, yes indeed. I have gone from 3 sugars in my tea and coffee to zero and I have cut down drastically elsewhere too. I had already cut back a lot on carbs to try to lose weight. I am now looking at cutting down on dairy fats etc..

weee profile image
weee

Yes, I have always viewed statins in a positive light and I read some research today which said - 'In recent decades, potential anticancer properties of cholesterol-lowering statins have received significant attention. - See more at: cancernetwork.com/lung-canc...

I have to say the first reply to my query scared the bejesus out of me..

weee profile image
weee in reply toweee

That first reply actually seems to have disappeared ..Strange...

weee profile image
weee

Trouble with cutting back carbs is, when I', cycling to and from work (8 miles there and 8 back) if I don't have some carbs I feel all weak and wobbly...

Penel profile image
Penel in reply toweee

Choose you carbs with care, high fibre and low GI. Good luck.

sargrith profile image
sargrith

Unfortunately there is the factor of hereditary. I also have lived a physical working life which included being on the go hardly ever sitting down all day.I have eaten a sensible diet and have never been more than slightly above normal weight for my height and build. But unlike you have always had a fairly low cholesterol reading. I've enjoyed taking part in several sports. But I still have various degrees of blockage to my arteries. For instance, mt right carotid artery is between 70 -80 percentage blocked. and some degree of blockage to various heart arteries.

weee profile image
weee in reply tosargrith

I'm sorry to hear that Sargrith. I have a family history of early cardiovascular disease so will be speaking to my GP about the inherited element.

DakCB-UK profile image
DakCB-UK

Demand a referral to a dietician or consult a coeliacs support organisation before blindly following the online cult of Low Carb High Fat.

weee profile image
weee in reply toDakCB-UK

Thank you for your concern Dak :) I have been coeliac for over 12 years and am monitored annually at a GI clinic.. I manage my coeliacs very well..

weee profile image
weee

I contacted the Heart UK helpline and spent a good 25 minutes talking to the very knowledgeable nurse there who suggested I ask my GP for a referral to a lipid clinic.. So I'm going to do that...

DakCB-UK profile image
DakCB-UK

Still looked like carb restriction and "the balance made up of natural fat" to me. What basis do you have for thinking weee only uses 50g's worth of carbs?

sandybrown profile image
sandybrown

Low protein/high carbohydrate (LPHC) diets when food was always available delivered the same benefits as calorie restriction in terms of insulin activity, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, the scientists found.

Read more: dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

sandybrown profile image
sandybrown

More cab, more glucose! Have been careful with food intake to keep HbA1c and cholesterol numbers.

Hello Weee, haha! here is my advice, start calling yourself a woman not a female, as there is nothing wrong with being a woman, i can vouch for this as i have loved one for 40 years. Tell us all what you eat and drink and, what you used to eat and drink. Diabetes is never mild, does one go mildly blind or have mild amputations, mild heart disease or stroke?. I bet your doctor has got some mild drugs on the shelf for you, but they won't change anything. I will change my name soon, maybe to 'the Jacobite' a mild one of course. Na!

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