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Reducing cholesterol

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
SB2015

SB2015

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Having just seen my GP about an unrelated matter, I have been advised that I need to reduce my cholesterol by Jan or I will be in danger of losing my Libre. The level I have to have is below 5. Mine is 5.1! Okay so not far to go but I need to be sure. I already take a statin and now need to do other stuff. I have no idea what I need to do. I have tended to ignore this bit, and my consultant has been happy, especially as I started at 7.5 when diagnosed. I have felt that I have enough to do with sorting out carbs, correction, basal rates, sensitivity ratios, exercise reductions, ...

Can anyone advise.
 
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You need to understand your lipids ratios and see how they compare with good ratios. Your GP should know that the ratios are what matters and not the total. You need a fasting blood test to get reliable lipids figures. Why is the GP threatening to remove the Libre? Blood cholesterol has nothing to with diabetes, although excess fat can cause insulin resistance as we all know.
 
So....you've managed to reduce your cholesterol from 7.5 to 5.1 while using the Libre...and they want to take it away because you're a hairs breadth above a spurious cut off point. Right.
Did your GP have any suggestions to make? If they're going to treat you like a donkey, they might offer you the carrot, and not just the stick!
 
SB2015 said:
Having just seen my GP about an unrelated matter, I have been advised that I need to reduce my cholesterol by Jan or I will be in danger of losing my Libre. The level I have to have is below 5. Mine is 5.1! Okay so not far to go but I need to be sure. I already take a statin and now need to do other stuff. I have no idea what I need to do. I have tended to ignore this bit, and my consultant has been happy, especially as I started at 7.5 when diagnosed. I have felt that I have enough to do with sorting out carbs, correction, basal rates, sensitivity ratios, exercise reductions, ...

Can anyone advise.

Sue
Click to expand...
You need to reduce it by .2 to keep your libre … seems entirely disproportionate Sue...if you are restricted on exercise the only other way would be to change your diet are you able to do that without causing a drastic change to your BGs...I haven't a clue about insulin but I am introducing new foods in order to try to lower my cholesterol...I have no idea how that may effect your management routine.
 
DaveB said:
You need to understand your lipids ratios and see how they compare with good ratios. Your GP should know that the ratios are what matters and not the total. You need a fasting blood test to get reliable lipids figures. Why is the GP threatening to remove the Libre? Blood cholesterol has nothing to with diabetes, although excess fat can cause insulin resistance as we all know.
Click to expand...

It is a boffin at the CCG who will be reviewing those that have been prescribed the Libre, and one of the targets is total cholesterol. My ratio is good, but I still need total down.

Yes it is frustrating and potty. I have had a rant, and a blurb on the walk home now onto practicalities.
Any ideas for practical suggestions very welcome.
 
Robin said:
So....you've managed to reduce your cholesterol from 7.5 to 5.1 while using the Libre...and they want to take it away because you're a hairs breadth above a spurious cut off point. Right.
Did your GP have any suggestions to make? If they're going to treat you like a donkey, they might offer you the carrot, and not just the stick!
Click to expand...
Yup!!! I know.
 
Bubbsie said:
You need to reduce it by .2 to keep your libre … seems entirely disproportionate Sue...if you are restricted on exercise the only other way would be to change your diet are you able to do that without causing a drastic change to your BGs...I haven't a clue about insulin but I am introducing new foods in order to try to lower my cholesterol...I have no idea how that may effect your management routine.
Click to expand...
I am very active : Pilates twice a week, walk every day, badminton twice a week, play in a band, ...
I will manage the change in insulin needs, but tell me what foods you are introducing.
 
SB2015 said:
It is a boffin at the CCG who will be reviewing those that have been prescribed the Libre, and one of the targets is total cholesterol. My ratio is good, but I still need total down.

Yes it is frustrating and potty. I have had a rant, and a blurb on the walk home now onto practicalities.
Any ideas for practical suggestions very welcome.
Click to expand...
Sue have you been able to see the CCG guidance on this...strikes me as too rigid a policy...that will be exactly what it is a policy decision likely not sanctioned by the NICE guidelines...as for suggestions I'm mindful of our different dietary requirements since I'm type 2...I'm introducing whey protein & more soluble fibre into my diet...I'm am trying to up my exercise & lose a little more weight...those are the only changes I have made...so far I have yet to see if those have lowered mine...but I'm hopeful.
 
SB2015 said:
I am very active : Pilates twice a week, walk every day, badminton twice a week, play in a band, ...
I will manage the change in insulin needs, but tell me what foods you are introducing.
Click to expand...
I think we crossed paths... as you were typing yours...I was typing mine...apart from he foodstuffs I've listed I cannot be too adventurous with my diet...I take Warfarin and any vast change in my diet will unbalance my INR levels.
 
I just want to say I'm utterly gobsmacked that a CCG can make such a ridiculous condition - it's like saying to get an insulin pump, we all have to have an appendix - totally unrelated.

Plus for a GP to merely repeat that, rather than offering any assistance in reducing it further safely - is so - just wrong.
 
trophywench said:
I just want to say I'm utterly gobsmacked that a CCG can make such a ridiculous condition - it's like saying to get an insulin pump, we all have to have an appendix - totally unrelated.

Plus for a GP to merely repeat that, rather than offering any assistance in reducing it further safely - is so - just wrong.
Click to expand...
In fairness to the GP I had left his room before I even thought of asking him how to achieve this. I was overwhelmed by my thoughts of what more do you want from me. I am doing the best I can. You try doing this every day. Do I have space in my head for thinking about yet more stuff healthwise, ...
Now I am onto praticalities. I have so far
- asked DSN for an appointment with the Diabetes dietitian
- let my consultant know of this input from GP.
- had a rant and posted for advice on here.
 
Bubbsie said:
Sue have you been able to see the CCG guidance on this...strikes me as too rigid a policy...that will be exactly what it is a policy decision likely not sanctioned by the NICE guidelines...as for suggestions I'm mindful of our different dietary requirements since I'm type 2...I'm introducing whey protein & more soluble fibre into my diet...I'm am trying to up my exercise & lose a little more weight...those are the only changes I have made...so far I have yet to see if those have lowered mine...but I'm hopeful.
Click to expand...
I saw the criteria at the start. I met all of them. Since then my cholesterol has gone up from 5 to 5.1
I know that this is bonkers and suspect the my consultant would disagree with the idea of yo yoing.

I hope that your steps are successful in reaching your targets.
 
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Benecol? Never tried it myself.
 
This is completely outrageous!

Some of the high up HCPs I’ve spoken to about some of the local guidelines for Libre are quite annoyed that cholesterol is even mentioned at all - it has NOTHING to do with Libre use!
 
SB2015 said:
Good reminder Matt
I tried it ages ago but found it so sweet and unpleasant that I gave up.
Click to expand...

I am assuming you are also attempting to limit fat content generally? I don’t think it will do much tbh, but it might take it down by one of the decimal points you need?
 
My consultant told me today that exercise is the key. I told him I had stopped drinking Benecol. My total cholesterol has gone up a shade but the ratios are still good.
I used to drink the dairy free Benecol as it’s very low carb, but
I think I also read that soya and soluble fibre increase good cholesterol.
 
Just had a medicinal glass of wine!
I read it on the internet!!

So far: exercise, reduce fat, increase fibre.
Any other ideas most welcome.
 
(And perhaps tell my GP he is bonkers. Maybe that is not the best plan but the thought is good for me.)
 
You might like to politely challenge the CCG if you get the opportunity. Using total cholesterol as a target is bad and out of date science. They should know better than that and are relaying on dated NICE Guidelines. It's the ratios that matter and they obviously haven't a clue, but sadly this is the NHS.
 
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