Cholesterol query

[Ivostas66]

When I was diagnosed my cholesterol was over 5 and I was told this was high/ a concern for someone with type 1. My last 4 blood tests have seen readings of 46, 42, 50 and 46 in terms of BG since diagnosis, but my cholesterol is now a 'red' 2.6. My consultant has suggested I think about coming off the Statins, but my GP has said that I should keep taking them. As my Nan suffered a stroke when she was in her 80s and there is a history of high cholesterol on my mothers side of the family, I am loathe to change anything unless I absolutely have to. I am currently taking a dose of 40 each day, perhaps I could ask my GP if a change to 20 would help?

Any suggestions would be welcome - focusing upon my blood glucose for so long, cholesterol has been pushed down the list of priorities!

 

[KARNAK]

Hi @Matt J cholesterol a bit of a pain for some of us.. Hope this helps It would be helpful if you can break your figure down into separate components which are available from your Dr or DSN. HDL a good part, LDL the naughty part and Triglycerides also a not very nice part, Statins is an individual choice and a lot of controversy over them. I can`t take them as they make me ill, so diet and exercise evaluation would be my first choice although at 2.6 you are well within the guide lines, hope this helps?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I think a reduction in dose sounds like a midpoint between the advice of your different HCPs 🙂

 

[Ivostas66]

Thanks for the advice/ suggestions! My good cholesterol is sitting on it's backside at a lowly 0.8. My diet has always been good as I was diagnosed with having a nut intolerance when I was 17 years old and have always eaten carefully as a result for the past 25 years - cooking my own meals where I can using fresh ingredients. In terms of exercise I played hockey until my back started to feel the effects about 5 years ago, but my two year old keeps me active!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

It might be interesting for you to run some ratios over your lipid splits to see if that sheds any light.

I think generally they’d like our LDL to be under 2 (mine is often a little over), but I’ve had positive conversations where my HDL has been high enough to put the ratios in a happier place.

I believe activity can help boost HDL, but it seems like you are already ticking that box.

Some forum members improve their lipid balance as a helpful byproduct of lowering carbs.

 

[DaveB]

Hi. I would ask the GP for a full fasting lipids 'panel' (blood test) having stopped the statins for a day or so to check your normal body's fat and the ratios. From that you can agree with the GP a suitable tablet dose if needed at all. Do not rely on just the total number and don't go too low. Your body needs cholesterol of the right type and, sadly, GPs don't always understand the subject well. To me a figure of 2.6 could be a bit too low but look at the ratios

 

[mikeyB]

For what it’s worth, my story is the same. I was started on statins years ago because my total cholesterol was 5.1.

When I got down to 3.0 I was wondering as you are. I just stopped taking them to see what happened. Not a lot. My levels are now perfectly acceptable five years on, presumably due to a lower carb diet. For sure, it isn’t due to increased exercise

By the way, your Nan having a stroke in her 80s does not amount to a red flag, nor is a total cholesterol of 5.

 

[MikeyBikey]

I would look at a dose reduction. Having looked at another forum it seems statins also reduce irritation, which the body tries to repair by laying down plaque, and stabilise the plaque. The general suggestion seems to be to go on a lower dose all things being equal to maintain these benefits. There were also some stories of people suffering a heart attack or stroke a few weeks/months after stopping them abruptly.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Just to note that according to all the expert guidance, statin recs should always be made in the context of an individual risk assessment by yr HCP. What's appropriate for one person basically has zero relevance to what's appropriate for you, in the absence of such an assessment.

Also just to note that the most up to date expert guidance for people characterised as "high risk" sets no lower limit for LDL targets, and basically says: get LDL as low as you can with lifestyle mods plus also max tolerated statin dosage.

NICE may get around to adopting this guidance if it ever gets around to following the Jan 2018 recommendations from its surveillance committee: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg...73/chapter/Surveillance-decision?tab=evidence

Topic expert feedback indicating the need to review recommendation 1.3.28, for using high-intensity statins to achieve a percentage reduction rather than an absolute lipid target level, is supported by new IPD meta-analysis evidence. This indicates large inter-individual variation in lipid level reductions achieved from statins, and that the lower the LDL-C level attained by statins, the greater the clinical benefit accrued.

 

[mikeyB]

Most of the data on cholesterol levels and diabetes refers to Type 2. In general terms, a Type 1 is a normal human with insulin deficiency, so I’m a normal human with a lower than average total cholesterol and normal ratios. That’s why I stopped statins and didn’t drop dead with a stroke or heart attack.

Type 1 is a single cause condition in the main. Type 2 is much more complex, and getting more complex as the years research shows.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Most of the data on cholesterol levels and diabetes refers to Type 2. In general terms, a Type 1 is a normal human with insulin deficiency, so I’m a normal human with a lower than average total cholesterol and normal ratios. That’s why I stopped statins and didn’t drop dead with a stroke or heart attack.

Type 1 is a single cause condition in the main. Type 2 is much more complex, and getting more complex as the years research shows.

Sure, so you're probably low risk. I'm very high risk - I have peripheral artery disease and a family history of CVD - so max dose Rosuvastatin and LDL targeting baby hamster levels is appropriate for me.

Nobody here can say whether the OP is closer to you or closer to me. Hopefully his HCP can.