Hello

[Sunshine time]

Hi, just joined. I've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last week ( it's all the unknown for me ) as a fit, active lady in myself - has come to a bit of a shock.
However, alongside my 82 reading from my blood test I have also received a astonishing high 58.3 reading from triglycerides with an overall level of 24 for cholesterol. For this, I'm taking ( day 9 today ) Lipitor medication at 80mg and to lower my sugar levels, my doctor has prescribed Metformin tablets of which I am taking 1500mg per day.
I have done some research, since my diagnosis and wow! For my cholesterol, I can see I am to eat carbs ( brown ) which I've always been on anyway, previous... Fruit ect... However, more to the point, after looking into foods which I'm to stay clear from with being diabetic, it states not to eat carbs, fruit ect...
I haven't yet been referred to a diabetic nurse ( hoping to ) or a dietician as my doctor is referring me to the lipid endocrine team.
Wondered if anyone also has similar problem as myself on here, with some knowledge of what to eat / do to help lower both blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels? It's a new one for me and I'm totally lost with it all at the moment.
Thank you so much in advance

 

[Felinia]

So sorry to hear of your shocking news. It sounds like your doctor is suspecting one of the conditions associated with lipid endocrinal issues, which includes diabetes, hence the first referral. I strongly suspect you will be asked to take statins as your cholesterol is so high. I was told many years ago cholesterol levels were related more to your liver function than diet. As for diet, I can't really help in your case, except perhaps to reduce carbs and fruits a bit, and see what your next set of tests and the referral tells you. I hope someone else here can give you more positive information.

 

[Sunshine time]

Hi, just joined. I've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last week ( it's all the unknown for me ) as a fit, active lady in myself - has come to a bit of a shock.
However, alongside my 82 reading from my blood test I have also received a astonishing high 58.3 reading from triglycerides with an overall level of 24 for cholesterol. For this, I'm taking ( day 9 today ) Lipitor medication at 80mg and to lower my sugar levels, my doctor has prescribed Metformin tablets of which I am taking 1500mg per day.
I have done some research, since my diagnosis and wow! For my cholesterol, I can see I am to eat carbs ( brown ) which I've always been on anyway, previous... Fruit ect... However, more to the point, after looking into foods which I'm to stay clear from with being diabetic, it states not to eat carbs, fruit ect...
I haven't yet been referred to a diabetic nurse ( hoping to ) or a dietician as my doctor is referring me to the lipid endocrine team.
Wondered if anyone also has similar problem as myself on here, with some knowledge of what to eat / do to help lower both blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels? It's a new one for me and I'm totally lost with it all at the moment.
Thank you so much in advance

Thank you for the reply.
Yes, I'm currently on Lipitor statins. I am currently finding myself constantly watching what I eat, although a vegetarian already, it doesn't seem to make much sense. However one is telling me online to eat carbs and fruit ( which apparently helps lower cholesterol ) but the diabetes information is saying, clearly stay away from those foods. So confused of what I am meant to eat.
I had my liver blood taken at the same time as cholesterol and diabetes test, I take it, that's fine as the doctor hasn't mentioned that.
Noticed this forum ( although diabetic ) but thought I'd put it out there if anyone knows what I should eat ect... So thank you so much for replying.

 

[Leadinglights]

You are very much caught between a rock and a hard place. You have been given quite a high dose of statin presumably to try to get the high level down quickly, but equally getting your blood glucose down is important so the carbohydrate content of your meals is what you need to watch. It is that much harder if vegetarian as many of the carb free or low carb foods are meat and fish. But there are a few people on here who are veggie so may be able to offer suggestions. Look on the internet for low carb or keto veggie recipes for ideas. Many veggie meals are based on eggs and cheese. There is not much evidence that dietary fats convert to cholesterol so there may be some other reason for your high cholesterol levels, hopefully the endocrine team can throw some light on it. The body does need cholesterol for all sorts of functions but when way above normal that could be a concern.
The values for the cholesterol results look a bit odd but the units are not mentioned, they are normally quoted in mmol/l and in the sort of numbers 3-9 with above 4 being regarded as being too high for diabetics or other high risk groups.

 

[trophywench]

No ! - the operative word re the chol is 'wholemeal' ! - not the word 'carbs'.

Anyway ..... if you reduce carbohydrate in your diet in general terms, not only the blood glucose reduces, also, the blood cholesterol also usually reduces. Nobody ever said with diabetes you cannot eat ANY carb, only to choose which foods you eat the carbs in, carefully. So - if you could choose between spuds or cabbage with your Sunday roast - choose the cabbage. But it's not even that stark - if you cut down on the spuds - and omg, for me you can ditch the mash entirely - and just give me one roast spud thanks (or maybe I could even manage 2 if they're not huge?)

Protein in any form is generally fine, so are some fats, again, choose which fats you eat, cos not all fats are equal!

 

[Inka]

If you have a special medical condition you might well need more individual advice @Sunshine time so have a look but follow the advice of your doctor. You don’t have to avoid all carbs just limit them (to varying extents depending on the person). Eg I have a veggie bean chilli that’s only 20g carbs per portion. No eggs, no cheese. It will be low fat too.

Personally I’d go with pulses over cheese for protein.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome from me too. Sorry to here you have such concerning issues.

Can I ask are you in the UK as those cholesterol/triglyceride readings don't seem right (well beyond high.... impossibly high I would have thought) and I am wondering if they are in a different unit of measurement to the standard used in the UK. Alternatively I would be asking for a repeat test to confirm as I might suspect an error somewhere either in testing or reporting. Did you get a print out of the results or did the GP just give you the results over the phone. The fact that you are fit and have a healthy lifestyle and diet already makes me wonder if they even got your results mixed up with someone else's. I would be asking for repeat tests if you haven't already.
Can I confirm that these were NHS tests and not some private health check and have you had any symptoms of diabetes? Was it just a routine blood test or because you were feeling unwell. Sorry to caste doubt but I would be wanting to be certain those results were correct when they are so highly unusual.

 

[Sunshine time]

Hi and welcome from me too. Sorry to here you have such concerning issues.

Can I ask are you in the UK as those cholesterol/triglyceride readings don't seem right (well beyond high.... impossibly high I would have thought) and I am wondering if they are in a different unit of measurement to the standard used in the UK. Alternatively I would be asking for a repeat test to confirm as I might suspect an error somewhere either in testing or reporting. Did you get a print out of the results or did the GP just give you the results over the phone. The fact that you are fit and have a healthy lifestyle and diet already makes me wonder if they even got your results mixed up with someone else's. I would be asking for repeat tests if you haven't already.
Can I confirm that these were NHS tests and not some private health check and have you had any symptoms of diabetes? Was it just a routine blood test or because you were feeling unwell. Sorry to caste doubt but I would be wanting to be certain those results were correct when they are so highly unusual.

Hi, thank you for your reply.
Ok, so I went to the doctor originally, after taking a quick blood prick from my finger for high sugar levels at work ( as I am a HCA in the hospital ) I'm in Cornwall so yes, UK. As I have been having some, minor symptoms of high sugar levels, ie... Dryness, urinating frequently, recently, numbness in my forefinger and side of thumb and tender sole of feet. So thought, whilst at work, I'd see what my sugar levels were... Which was 13.7
So saw my doctor, he then decided to take a full 'mot' blood test from me...
Cholesterol, kidney, liver, diabetes and full blood count...
That night, midnight, I had a telephone call from NHS out of hours doctor, telling me my sodium level were very low 126 and how do I feel in myself... Felt ok, considering I told him!
The following day, my doctor called, saying he thinks that the blood test results were faulty and I was to have a repeat test... That afternoon!
24 hours later, my doctor called again, telling me the results, which was the same as the original and to take myself to a & e for a check up... Because of the sink in the results, they were out of sink totally. I took myself to a & e, to have another blood test taken, which shows the same but told me considering I feel fine, to go home and the GP will refer me to the endocrine team, which he has done.
The doctor gave me these results over the phone. I asked what my cholesterol should be, he said 5! Even I was shocked, as I feel ok.
It's a mystery, definitely but after 3 lots of blood tests, showing the same results... I can say I think they're correct.
Thank you all so much for the fab advice ☺️

 

[Sunshine time]

If you have a special medical condition you might well need more individual advice @Sunshine time so have a look but follow the advice of your doctor. You don’t have to avoid all carbs just limit them (to varying extents depending on the person). Eg I have a veggie bean chilli that’s only 20g carbs per portion. No eggs, no cheese. It will be low fat too.

Personally I’d go with pulses over cheese for protein.

Aww, I love bean chilli.
Thank you

 

[Sunshine time]

You are very much caught between a rock and a hard place. You have been given quite a high dose of statin presumably to try to get the high level down quickly, but equally getting your blood glucose down is important so the carbohydrate content of your meals is what you need to watch. It is that much harder if vegetarian as many of the carb free or low carb foods are meat and fish. But there are a few people on here who are veggie so may be able to offer suggestions. Look on the internet for low carb or keto veggie recipes for ideas. Many veggie meals are based on eggs and cheese. There is not much evidence that dietary fats convert to cholesterol so there may be some other reason for your high cholesterol levels, hopefully the endocrine team can throw some light on it. The body does need cholesterol for all sorts of functions but when way above normal that could be a concern.
The values for the cholesterol results look a bit odd but the units are not mentioned, they are normally quoted in mmol/l and in the sort of numbers 3-9 with above 4 being regarded as being too high for diabetics or other high risk groups.

Thank you so much
I guess, the endocrine team will go through it with me in more detail.
It was just the food intake ect I was querying about as I think I've read too much online and confused myself.
I personally, don't understand my results, myself but I hear what you're saying... Seems odd numbers.
Thanks for the advice though, it's shedding some light to my query.

 

[Sunshine time]

No ! - the operative word re the chol is 'wholemeal' ! - not the word 'carbs'.

Anyway ..... if you reduce carbohydrate in your diet in general terms, not only the blood glucose reduces, also, the blood cholesterol also usually reduces. Nobody ever said with diabetes you cannot eat ANY carb, only to choose which foods you eat the carbs in, carefully. So - if you could choose between spuds or cabbage with your Sunday roast - choose the cabbage. But it's not even that stark - if you cut down on the spuds - and omg, for me you can ditch the mash entirely - and just give me one roast spud thanks (or maybe I could even manage 2 if they're not huge?)

Protein in any form is generally fine, so are some fats, again, choose which fats you eat, cos not all fats are equal!

Thank you that makes sense.

 

[rebrascora]

Oh Wow! I can see how that would be concerning then!

As regards lowering cholesterol, I believe it is not specifically "carbs" or even "wholegrains" but fibre which may be the important factor... so you might try something like psyllium husk and chia seeds as well as a good "bean chilli" and plenty of cabbage. Our modern diet is very heavily based on grains so I think it may just be easier to suggest wholegrains to people with high cholesterol, because it is just a minor and therefore relatively easy change for most people but those grains will not help your diabetes so getting your fibre from lower carb (none grain) sources would probably be a better option.

Please let us know how you get on. There is clearly a very significant imbalance somewhere. I hope they are able to identify and rectify it easily.

 

[Sunshine time]

That's so helpful, thank you for that!
I'll do anything to help myself lower it and quickly!
I will do, thanks for your help and suggestions really appreciate it
Have a lovely evening

 

[Felinia]

I'm so glad you had the sense to test yourself first then seek help. And with 3 tests giving the same results error has been ruled out. I hope you've got on top of whatever this is really early and get prompt effective treatment. I'm in Devon and think we have an excellent NHS service here - I hope it is the same in Cornwall.

 

[Sunshine time]

I'm so glad you had the sense to test yourself first then seek help. And with 3 tests giving the same results error has been ruled out. I hope you've got on top of whatever this is really early and get prompt effective treatment. I'm in Devon and think we have an excellent NHS service here - I hope it is the same in Cornwall.

Oh, I totally agree. We're lucky to have great services, although only one major hospital in Cornwall, it's stretched.
Thank you, I'm hoping the same