Katsmeow
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2009
- Messages
- 5,308
I had routine lab tests come back and some of the results where a bit perplexing. The main results:
The Good
HDL Cholesterol - 53
Triglycerides - 104
VLDL - 21
Triglycerides/HDL Ratio (calculated by me) - 1.96.
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (calculated by me) - 4.5
Fasting Blood Glucose - 84
The Bad
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) - 3.41
Total Cholesterol - 225
LDL Cholesterol - 151
The Ugly
Vitamin D - 8.7 ng/ml
A1C - 5.9%
The 4 issues are Vitamin D, Thyroid, Cholesterol and -- of most concern -- blood glucose.
Background
My last lab testing was in 12/2011 after I had been eating low carb for 6 months. Prior testing was in 6/2011 right before I started eating low carb. I'll post about those results as relevant in the specific sections.
I've been losing weight over the past few years and have a lost a total of 49 pounds. I am currently 11 pounds away from a normal BMI. I currently eat a low-ish carb diet, some might call it low moderate. I record everything I eat. During 2014 I averaged about 118g of carbs a day (96g net carbs, subtracting out fiber only).
Talking about each one:
Vitamin D - My Vitamin D level is really severely low. I am a bit surprised it is so low since I was normal in June, 2011. I don't go aside a ton (just for walking mostly and only during good weather). So it doesn't surprise me to be low, but surprises me to be that low. With these results I'm now taking 50,000 units of Vitamin D weekly for 12 weeks.
I searched and read a prior thread awhile back and saw several people had low Vitamin D. I do have some fatigue the past several months so I am hoping the supplement may help with that. Am curious for those who had low Vitamin D and took supplements, whether you could tell any difference in how you felt? If you did, how long did it take?
Thyroid - I know there is controversy about whether my result would be considered abnormal or not. My doctor's office likes it to not be above about 2.5 and so I am now taking a low dose each day of Levothyroxine. Back in 2011 my TSH level was 1.58 and results I have for prior years were below 2. So, increasing to 3.41 in 3 years really is quite a jump for me.
Cholesterol - I know this is also controversial. I am reasonably OK with my results. I am happy with the triglycerides/HDL ratio. Back in 6/2011 (I had lost maybe 30 pounds at that time), my results were:
Total Cholesterol - 182
HDL - 45
Triglycerides - 128
LDL - 111
After eating low carb (very low carb at the start, eating about 80 to 100 g a day after 6 months - 40 to 60 net carbs a day), my results in 12/2011 were:
Total Cholesterol - 205
HDL - 46
Triglycerides - 90
LDL - 141
So my current results are better on the HDL, a little higher on everything else.
I have taken Lipitor (10mg only) off and on over the years. Back in 2000, my total cholesterol was 248, HDL 54, LDL 175, triglycerides 97. I took Lipitor for awhile which had a dramatic effect. In 2004, I had stopped Lipitor and total cholesterol was 256, HDL 43, LDL 174, triglycerides 195. I went back on Lipitor for a few years then had stopped it for several months before I was tested in June, 2011.
I know all about the issues of LDL particle size/number. From what I've read my current triglyceride/HDL ratio would suggest I likely have large, fluffy LDL particles.
So, I wouldn't be that concerned particularly ...except for 2 things. I'm adopted and know nothing of paternal medical history. I do have contact with my biological mother and we were talking recently and found out that she has high cholesterol (untreated years ago it reached to nearly 300). She says that it runs in the family. She is thin so this isn't an obesity thing. She does take statins. On the other hand, she is a pretty healthy 85 year old.
The other thing is that I developed small cholesterol deposits on my eyes (xanthelasma). I was in my mid-50s when I developed them. I've read that people with xanthelasma have a higher risk of cardiac death (independent of their blood cholesterol level). Apparently having them shows an abnormality in how the body handles cholesterol.
So - given those two things I might be more friendly to the idea of statins. I never had any negative side effects when I took Lipitor. I know some people do have them, but I didn't. But, I have also read that they increase the risk of diabetes and that really scares me. So...just not sure. If it wasn't for the familial history and the xanthelasma I wouldn't worry about my cholesterol at all really. But, with those two things, I'm less sure.
Blood Glucose
I am perplexed by the 5.9% A1C which apparently equates to an average blood glucose level of 123. This was the first time I've had an A1C. My current fasting blood glucose is 84 which is fine. In 12/2011 (after eating low carb), my fasting blood glucose was 82. In June, 2011 (before low carb) it was 98. Looking back over old records I had some other results in the mid-90s.
From what I've read, it seems like usually people with that kind of A1C have high triglycerides...but I don't. Basically the A1C number doesn't seem to match up with my 84 fasting blood glucose or with my 103 triglycerides.
I do know that the A1C is an average over time while the fasting number is more a snapshot in time. But, I went back and checked my food records. I ate very similarly in the 3 days before the fasting blood glucose was taken compared to how I ate over the 3 month period.
My plan is to use a meter and test my blood glucose each morning and 1 and 2 hours after eating to find out (1) how my blood glucose is changing after eating and (2) finding out which foods are raising it and then avoiding those foods. I plan to get the A1C tested again in 3 months.
I really didn't expect to see that kind of A1C number -- I thought I would have one that would go with my fasting blood glucose number and that would match my triglycerides so I'm surprised that it didn't.
I really don't want to develop diabetes (I know this may not be totally under my control). My adoptive mother has Type II diabetes and I really want to avoid it if possible. I think that the best plan is to test and find out what foods raise my blood sugar and to then avoid those foods or modify them so they don't raise my blood sugar.
Appreciate any words of wisdom anyone has on this.
The Good
HDL Cholesterol - 53
Triglycerides - 104
VLDL - 21
Triglycerides/HDL Ratio (calculated by me) - 1.96.
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (calculated by me) - 4.5
Fasting Blood Glucose - 84
The Bad
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) - 3.41
Total Cholesterol - 225
LDL Cholesterol - 151
The Ugly
Vitamin D - 8.7 ng/ml
A1C - 5.9%
The 4 issues are Vitamin D, Thyroid, Cholesterol and -- of most concern -- blood glucose.
Background
My last lab testing was in 12/2011 after I had been eating low carb for 6 months. Prior testing was in 6/2011 right before I started eating low carb. I'll post about those results as relevant in the specific sections.
I've been losing weight over the past few years and have a lost a total of 49 pounds. I am currently 11 pounds away from a normal BMI. I currently eat a low-ish carb diet, some might call it low moderate. I record everything I eat. During 2014 I averaged about 118g of carbs a day (96g net carbs, subtracting out fiber only).
Talking about each one:
Vitamin D - My Vitamin D level is really severely low. I am a bit surprised it is so low since I was normal in June, 2011. I don't go aside a ton (just for walking mostly and only during good weather). So it doesn't surprise me to be low, but surprises me to be that low. With these results I'm now taking 50,000 units of Vitamin D weekly for 12 weeks.
I searched and read a prior thread awhile back and saw several people had low Vitamin D. I do have some fatigue the past several months so I am hoping the supplement may help with that. Am curious for those who had low Vitamin D and took supplements, whether you could tell any difference in how you felt? If you did, how long did it take?
Thyroid - I know there is controversy about whether my result would be considered abnormal or not. My doctor's office likes it to not be above about 2.5 and so I am now taking a low dose each day of Levothyroxine. Back in 2011 my TSH level was 1.58 and results I have for prior years were below 2. So, increasing to 3.41 in 3 years really is quite a jump for me.
Cholesterol - I know this is also controversial. I am reasonably OK with my results. I am happy with the triglycerides/HDL ratio. Back in 6/2011 (I had lost maybe 30 pounds at that time), my results were:
Total Cholesterol - 182
HDL - 45
Triglycerides - 128
LDL - 111
After eating low carb (very low carb at the start, eating about 80 to 100 g a day after 6 months - 40 to 60 net carbs a day), my results in 12/2011 were:
Total Cholesterol - 205
HDL - 46
Triglycerides - 90
LDL - 141
So my current results are better on the HDL, a little higher on everything else.
I have taken Lipitor (10mg only) off and on over the years. Back in 2000, my total cholesterol was 248, HDL 54, LDL 175, triglycerides 97. I took Lipitor for awhile which had a dramatic effect. In 2004, I had stopped Lipitor and total cholesterol was 256, HDL 43, LDL 174, triglycerides 195. I went back on Lipitor for a few years then had stopped it for several months before I was tested in June, 2011.
I know all about the issues of LDL particle size/number. From what I've read my current triglyceride/HDL ratio would suggest I likely have large, fluffy LDL particles.
So, I wouldn't be that concerned particularly ...except for 2 things. I'm adopted and know nothing of paternal medical history. I do have contact with my biological mother and we were talking recently and found out that she has high cholesterol (untreated years ago it reached to nearly 300). She says that it runs in the family. She is thin so this isn't an obesity thing. She does take statins. On the other hand, she is a pretty healthy 85 year old.
The other thing is that I developed small cholesterol deposits on my eyes (xanthelasma). I was in my mid-50s when I developed them. I've read that people with xanthelasma have a higher risk of cardiac death (independent of their blood cholesterol level). Apparently having them shows an abnormality in how the body handles cholesterol.
So - given those two things I might be more friendly to the idea of statins. I never had any negative side effects when I took Lipitor. I know some people do have them, but I didn't. But, I have also read that they increase the risk of diabetes and that really scares me. So...just not sure. If it wasn't for the familial history and the xanthelasma I wouldn't worry about my cholesterol at all really. But, with those two things, I'm less sure.
Blood Glucose
I am perplexed by the 5.9% A1C which apparently equates to an average blood glucose level of 123. This was the first time I've had an A1C. My current fasting blood glucose is 84 which is fine. In 12/2011 (after eating low carb), my fasting blood glucose was 82. In June, 2011 (before low carb) it was 98. Looking back over old records I had some other results in the mid-90s.
From what I've read, it seems like usually people with that kind of A1C have high triglycerides...but I don't. Basically the A1C number doesn't seem to match up with my 84 fasting blood glucose or with my 103 triglycerides.
I do know that the A1C is an average over time while the fasting number is more a snapshot in time. But, I went back and checked my food records. I ate very similarly in the 3 days before the fasting blood glucose was taken compared to how I ate over the 3 month period.
My plan is to use a meter and test my blood glucose each morning and 1 and 2 hours after eating to find out (1) how my blood glucose is changing after eating and (2) finding out which foods are raising it and then avoiding those foods. I plan to get the A1C tested again in 3 months.
I really didn't expect to see that kind of A1C number -- I thought I would have one that would go with my fasting blood glucose number and that would match my triglycerides so I'm surprised that it didn't.
I really don't want to develop diabetes (I know this may not be totally under my control). My adoptive mother has Type II diabetes and I really want to avoid it if possible. I think that the best plan is to test and find out what foods raise my blood sugar and to then avoid those foods or modify them so they don't raise my blood sugar.
Appreciate any words of wisdom anyone has on this.