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Blood tests

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M

Mynxie

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Type 2
Just wondering if anyone can tell me if a low carb high fat diet will affect the results of a blood test? My doctor has given me lots of leaflets regarding my newly diagnosed diabetes but they all advocate a ‘traditional’ diet and I’m finding the LCHF one really suits me in conjunction with IF. I’d really like to carry on with it but am a bit afraid I’ll be told not to!

I’ve only been on it for a week and the blood test was to check for kidney function after starting new Blood Pressure medication.
 
Hi
For me, I have found (so far) that LCHF eating has improved my results. The really surprising one is that my cholesterol has progressively decreased despite eating lots of cheese and cream and fatty meat and nuts and eggs all of which are high in saturated fats. My new practice nurse wants me to take Statins as my QRisk, according to her, is 14% but I have refused. I will however be discussing it with my consultant (I'm Type 1) today during my phone appointment. He has previously said I don't need them but I think it is right to review that with my new blood test results which I will hopefully get during the appointment. Always a bit apprehensive to get new cholesterol results in case there is a change in the wrong direction, as really don't want to have to move away from my LCHF way of eating but can't ethically justify taking statins when I eat a lot of cheese and cream. It would be like bingeing on sweets and chocolate and just injecting masses of insulin to cover it!

I do think it may be important to ensure you have plenty of dietary fibre, particularly soluble fibre, with a LCHF way of eating to help with cholesterol. I have a fibre drink every morning of psyllium husk and chia seeds soaked in a large glass of water with a dash of apple cider vinegar (and balsamic and a dash of diet cola because I am weird and I love the flavour combination) which I think may have a positive impact on cholesterol levels as well as incorporating plenty of veg into diet.
 
My experience so far on Low carb high ish fat diet is brilliant for blood sugar and slight increase in total cholesterol but all other lipid doing great . I’m just keeping an eye on that at the moment. All other routine bloods fine. Barbara I hope your results are just as good this time around… Be sure to let us know x
 
EmmaL76 said:
My experience so far on Low carb high ish fat diet is brilliant for blood sugar and slight increase in total cholesterol but all other lipid doing great . I’m just keeping an eye on that at the moment. All other routine bloods fine. Barbara I hope your results are just as good this time around… Be sure to let us know x
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Thank you. Will update my signature as well as report on this thread since it is quite relevant.
 
Well the results are in and it is disappointingly a slight increase in cholesterol from 4.5 to 4.9. LDL is slightly higher than previously but Trigs are much lower, supporting the information I was given that a fasting cholesterol test has a tendency to show a reduced Trigs reading. (Never had a fasting test before but I got an early appointment this time so went for it) HbA1c is 51 which is down 2mmols from June so whilst I would be happier with a 4 at the beginning, I appreciate that it isn't a bad result and consultant is happy, but want a number in the 40s next time!
 
rebrascora said:
Well the results are in and it is disappointingly a slight increase in cholesterol from 4.5 to 4.9. LDL is slightly higher than previously but Trigs are much lower, supporting the information I was given that a fasting cholesterol test has a tendency to show a reduced Trigs reading. (Never had a fasting test before but I got an early appointment this time so went for it) HbA1c is 51 which is down 2mmols from June so whilst I would be happier with a 4 at the beginning, I appreciate that it isn't a bad result and consultant is happy, but want a number in the 40s next time!
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I’ve never been asked to do a fasting but was curious about what difference it would make. Still great results even if there is a little increase. I’m assuming your not being asked to take statins? When I was under 5 they were not suggested to me. Xx
 
EmmaL76 said:
I’ve never been asked to do a fasting but was curious about what difference it would make. Still great results even if there is a little increase. I’m assuming your not being asked to take statins? When I was under 5 they were not suggested to me. Xx
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My practice nurse wants me to take statins as my Qrisk is 14% due to type 1 diabetes. I had meaningful discussion with consultant today and he is OK/understanding of my decision not to take them for now. As he says, it can be reassessed at any time. NICE guidelines are supposedly to offer statins if Total Cholesterol is above 4. Not sure if that means 4.1 or 5.0. I am not ready to start taking them just yet and ultimately it is my choice, but he was happy for me to leave them for now.
 
Thanks everyone

Yes, IF = intermittent fasting - I’m going in with all guns blazing! No snacks either so there really isn’t anything else I can do to help myself at the moment. I’m also walking a lot more. I’m using my Fitbit to log everything I eat.

Im on a very low dose statin but really want to come off all medication ASAP.
 
Mynxie said:
Thanks everyone

Yes, IF = intermittent fasting - I’m going in with all guns blazing! No snacks either so there really isn’t anything else I can do to help myself at the moment. I’m also walking a lot more. I’m using my Fitbit to log everything I eat.

Im on a very low dose statin but really want to come off all medication ASAP.
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Just be careful you don't reduce carbs too quickly as that can cause issues with your eyes and nerves. I was not aware of that and reduced my carb intake to less than 70g per day and had problems with my near vision, far vision was fine, my eyes didn't really seem to work together so I struggled to see properly doing anything close up. It passes of quicky for most people but it lasted several months for me.
It is suggested that you reduce your intake by one third for a couple of weeks then another third and so on until you get to where you want or need to be to reduce your post meal increases to no more than 2-3mmol/l or more than 8.5mmol/l
 
Wow I never knew that! I’ve radica changed what and when I eat - maybe I should rethink my strategy though ideally I’d love to keep on the diet for a few more weeks (I’m only at the end of week 1!) just to kickstart things.

Ive been diagnosed on a HBa1c of 50 and not overweight according to my BMI but I’ve read that I need to get back to where I was in my 20’s, so could do with losing a stone and a half.
 
Mynxie said:
Wow I never knew that! I’ve radica changed what and when I eat - maybe I should rethink my strategy though ideally I’d love to keep on the diet for a few more weeks (I’m only at the end of week 1!) just to kickstart things.

Ive been diagnosed on a HBa1c of 50 and not overweight according to my BMI but I’ve read that I need to get back to where I was in my 20’s, so could do with losing a stone and a half.
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Neither did I until I read on here and that then explained my eye issues. My HbA1C was also 50.
 
rebrascora said:
My practice nurse wants me to take statins as my Qrisk is 14% due to type 1 diabetes. I had meaningful discussion with consultant today and he is OK/understanding of my decision not to take them for now. As he says, it can be reassessed at any time. NICE guidelines are supposedly to offer statins if Total Cholesterol is above 4. Not sure if that means 4.1 or 5.0. I am not ready to start taking them just yet and ultimately it is my choice, but he was happy for me to leave them for now.
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ROFL - We Wish!! 4.1 .....
 
Well, whatever I’m doing I think it’s working. I did my first finger prick test today - immediately before lunch and it was 6. Two hours after Id eaten I did it again and it was 7. Am I right in thinking this is good? Should I test before and after every meal or just once? Sorry for all the questions - its all so new to me still.
 
That is a good result so you can be pretty certain that meal was fine for you so no need to test that one again. But you will need to do the same thing for different meals so you will gradually build up some meals you know you will be safe with.
If for example when you tested after your meal and it had been 9mmol/l then you might decide that was too big an increase and want to reduce the carbohydrate component but then it would be wise to test again.
 
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