Please clarify

[montana52]

I have type2 diabetes,my total cholesterol reading was 5.5.is this a high reading as after speaking to other people the general consensus is that it is about right.

[sandybrown]

You need to look at all three blood numbers, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood glucose and now days it HbA1C. also your weight, height and waist measurement before any one can comment on the total cholesterol number. A medical person is best to give you the comment this is because we all have different mechanism in our body..

Life style change, regular exercise and food intake can help you towards a healthy life.

[Hidden]

Hello, no your cholesterol is lower than the UK average which is 5.7. But as you have diabetes you will probably be advised to take a statin anyway, as diabetes is an independent heart disease risk.

Statins don't only lower cholesterol. A lot of people believe that their main benefit is that they are anti coagulant and anti inflammatory. There is some evidence to support this as medications that just lower cholesterol don't prevent heart disease as effectively as a statin.

Cholesterol level is a very small part of heart disease risk.

[BAUS]

5.5 is normal ...mine is 7.4 I'm doing everything I can to bring it down and avoid statins

[sandybrown]

I am very sorry to say this "Only a medically qualified person can comment on a cholesterol level".

Given only limited information, a medically qualified person has to look at all the parameters.

Once a medically qualified person has this information and then he or she can answer the poster's question.

[vincend]

Yes, a doctor weighs up all the risk factors to determine if you need any medication. Cholesterol level is one factor.