Into the system!

[Edgar's Raven]

Hello everyone. About three years ago I was diagnosed with a BG of 56 - my GP told me go away and see what I could do with diet and exercise. And that was that, so I did. Managed to get it down to bumping along at 41/42 but it has now crept up to 52 (my own darn fault). Said GP has left and a really good advanced nurse practitioner has taken me under her wing, so to speak, and I've finally had my feet tickled! However, BP was raised, as was cholesterol, and I'm now on Metformin (two a day). The nurse wants me to go on Ramipril and statins but I am resisting. Apparently 'they' (whoever they are) would like to see T2s with cholesterol below 4. Until now, mine has been steady at 4.4 for decades - it's probably gone up because I've done absolultely no exercise since this pandemic began and I'm sure my fat intake is too high. Told you it was my fault! What are others' views on Ramipril and statins? I'm ok with Metformin but I don't want to take the other two - is anyone on the trio?

 

[Leadinglights]

Do you need to lose weight? Losing weight if you need to will help with your blood pressure, the problem with blood pressure meds is once you start to take them it is hard to come off them. But it is equally important for your blood pressure to be at normal levels. Raised cholesterol is not necessarily something to be too concerned about, it is the ratio of HDL,LDL and triglycerides rather than the total that is more important. There is little evidence that dietary fats convert into cholesterol as long as they are 'good' fats and the body needs cholesterol for many metabolic processes.
You have managed to bring your HbA1C down before so you probably know what you need to do but maybe going back to basics and keeping a food diary will help you see where you have slipped up.
Have a look at the thread What did you eat yesterday for some ideas of meals people with Type 2 have.
I take 2 blood pressure meds (2 because a higher dose of the 1 made me feel unwell) and the statin which I have had no problems with keeps the cholesterol at 3.4 and the ratios good.

 

[Drummer]

Being female and older, the statistics show that I am likely to die earlier if I push down my cholesterol levels. Combined with my experience of Metformin and Atorvastatin for a few weeks after diagnosis, with weakened muscles and my memory shot, which took years to recover - I will not be taking advice from anyone wanting to return me to that state - which is difficult to remember now. I can only really remember things coming back and my relief in the time after stopping the tablets.

 

[Edgar's Raven]

Do you need to lose weight? Losing weight if you need to will help with your blood pressure, the problem with blood pressure meds is once you start to take them it is hard to come off them. But it is equally important for your blood pressure to be at normal levels. Raised cholesterol is not necessarily something to be too concerned about, it is the ratio of HDL,LDL and triglycerides rather than the total that is more important. There is little evidence that dietary fats convert into cholesterol as long as they are 'good' fats and the body needs cholesterol for many metabolic processes.
You have managed to bring your HbA1C down before so you probably know what you need to do but maybe going back to basics and keeping a food diary will help you see where you have slipped up.
Have a look at the thread What did you eat yesterday for some ideas of meals people with Type 2 have.
I take 2 blood pressure meds (2 because a higher dose of the 1 made me feel unwell) and the statin which I have had no problems with keeps the cholesterol at 3.4 and the ratios good.

Thank you for your reply, Leading Lights. I thought the same as you re cholesterol - it has gone up but I'm not too concerned, and also I feel the same about BP meds. I will have a look at the thread - it's good to know what other people eat and I definitely need to go back to basics.

 

[Edgar's Raven]

Being female and older, the statistics show that I am likely to die earlier if I push down my cholesterol levels. Combined with my experience of Metformin and Atorvastatin for a few weeks after diagnosis, with weakened muscles and my memory shot, which took years to recover - I will not be taking advice from anyone wanting to return me to that state - which is difficult to remember now. I can only really remember things coming back and my relief in the time after stopping the tablets.

That's the thing about cholesterol, Drummer. My sister-in-law tries to eliminate ALL fats from her diet as there's a family history of higher cholesterol (which may be just their genes), and I am sure it will not do her any good in the long term. I also know of a couple of people who have had the same symptoms as you on statins.

 

[DaveB]

Hi. It's NICE that set the cholesterol figure of 4. It has largely been plucked from thin air and has little scientific basis. As others have said it's things like LDL, HDL ratios that matter more. With a level of 4.4 I wouldn't rush to take statins unless your ratios are bad. My diabetes GP prescribed low-dose Ramipril a few years back almost without asking as I had a slightly raised in-surgery BP test. Having bought a BP meter and doing tests at home I found my average levels were within a good range and got the Ramipril stopped. My DN is happy to take my own BP readings at my reviews. Ramipril does have some minor side effects and can affect your travel insurance; like statins they are not sweets.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi. It's NICE that set the cholesterol figure of 4. It has largely been plucked from thin air and has little scientific basis. As others have said it's things like LDL, HDL ratios that matter more. With a level of 4.4 I wouldn't rush to take statins unless your ratios are bad. My diabetes GP prescribed low-dose Ramipril a few years back almost without asking as I had a slightly raised in-surgery BP test. Having bought a BP meter and doing tests at home I found my average levels were within a good range and got the Ramipril stopped. My DN is happy to take my own BP readings at my reviews. Ramipril does have some minor side effects and can affect your travel insurance; like statins they are not sweets.

My blood pressure can be through the roof at the GP surgery, as there is always something that annoys me whilst waiting. So home monitoring usually gives something more realistic. I take amlodipine which seems to be the first port of call plus candesartan, both at the lowest dose.

 

[mage 1]

I would agree with daveB I have been on bp tables for years because my bp is always high in docs I Now do my own with my own bp meter and it is low as for statins thay just came with the bp tablets I will be asking for a review

 

[Drummer]

I would agree with daveB I have been on bp tables for years because my bp is always high in docs I Now do my own with my own bp meter and it is low as for statins thay just came with the bp tablets I will be asking for a review

I have spoken of my experience with my sister, and at first she pooh poohed it, then her husband was prescribed statins and she says he is so changed now, but he will not go against his GPs advice.
He has stopped reading as he can't follow the plots, and what he watches on TV has changed, no more detective series, as he can't follow the plots - he also loses the thread of what they are discussing, forgets plans they have made, prefers to sit around rather than go exploring when they take their caravan away. They need to change the van as it is rather heavy for the car they have now - but he can't be persuaded to even consider it. I think she has been very lonely during lockdown.

 

[Spozkins]

That's the thing about cholesterol, Drummer. My sister-in-law tries to eliminate ALL fats from her diet as there's a family history of higher cholesterol (which may be just their genes), and I am sure it will not do her any good in the long term. I also know of a couple of people who have had the same symptoms as you on statins.

Interestingly I eat a really high fat diet and my dietary cholesterol usually comes back as low so I think if you eat the right fats it's not a big problem.

 

[Maca44]

Statins is a thing I spoke to DR about last week as I wanted to stop them but after a long discussion regarding long term risks I decided to stay on them. My cholesterol is now good and she did say I could stop them if i wanted but needed to know the risks of taking them against long term problems so it was my call to stay on them.