That time again

[Stitch147]

Just had an email asking me to book blood tests for diabetes recall.
It's usually January but pleased I can get it done before Christmas!
Also have to email current weight and 10 BP readings across too.

 

[grovesy]

Good luck.

 

[Robin]

Just had an email asking me to book blood tests for diabetes recall.
It's usually January but pleased I can get it done before Christmas!
Also have to email current weight and 10 BP readings across too.

I was so pleased the other day, mines due in January as well, and will be a telephone review with the nurse, but I was called in last week for the blood tests, and the HCP also did the weighing, BP and foot tickling, because as she put it 'You don’t want to be having all the tests just after the Christmas excesses'

 

[trophywench]

Supposed to be having my toes tickled etc a week on Friday - I must ring tomorrow and cancel that.

 

[Stitch147]

Bloods taken this morning, sample also dropped off, all other info sent to practice nurse via email. Now the wait for results starts. I will admit I'm dreading the results this year as I've struggled for most of it. Maybe it will be the kick up the rear end I need. I'll know soon enough.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope it goes well @Stitch147

 

[Stitch147]

Well, as I expected my hba1c is up, now at 65.
But my cholesterol is now at 2.4 (been on stains since march)

 

[AndBreathe]

Well, as I expected my hba1c is up, now at 65.
But my cholesterol is now at 2.4 (been on stains since march)

Gosh Stitch, that's a low lipid level. Were you started on statins at 3.6?

I'm afraid my knowledge of MODY (aside from at a high level understanding) isn't incredibly robust, but I guess the next steps in relation to treatment depend on your particular genetic mutation and whether you have any room to manoeuvre on lifestyle.

 

[Stitch147]

Gosh Stitch, that's a low lipid level. Were you started on statins at 3.6?

I'm afraid my knowledge of MODY (aside from at a high level understanding) isn't incredibly robust, but I guess the next steps in relation to treatment depend on your particular genetic mutation and whether you have any room to manoeuvre on lifestyle.

Yep, it was recommended that i go on statins due to age and being diabetic, I have no side effects so dont mind taking them.
Dont know what mutation I have as dr is unwilling to do genetic tests due to cost, I just have to wait now and see what happens.

 

[AndBreathe]

Yep, it was recommended that i go on statins due to age and being diabetic, I have no side effects so dont mind taking them.
Dont know what mutation I have as dr is unwilling to do genetic tests due to cost, I just have to wait now and see what happens.

To be absolutely transparent, I'm not a fan of statins, but I did a lot of reading before coming to my own personal conclusions on my own situation.

There is no doubt whatsoever that the majority of things we read are about cholesterol and managing levels considered t be elevated, but we read scant amounts of very low levels, but there is reading to be done out there.

Personally, at those levels I would find it very important to understand the breakdown of my total cholesterol, and consider those levels in conjunction with the role of cholesterol in our bodies.

Stitch, have you ever seen an Endocrinologist about your diabetes? With a less usual form of the condition, I would want some expert guidance. I'm sure your GP is a very nice and efficient chap, but my thoughts would be that MODY is quite a niche condition.

These days, in my view, our GPs are our gateway to specialist care, when required.

Good luck with it all.

 

[Sharron1]

Hi, I am on the road to statins, good cholestrol ok, ,trigs ok but not so good bad cholestrol. Total cholestrol 7. Last chat with GP, she told me i shouldn't look for info on the internet, she wouldn't want me to have a heart attack and that i can never lower my cholesterol. But she didn't ask what I was concerned about and didn't tell me about Statins. It was an odd conversationFelt rather like a tick box exercise

 

[Robin]

Last time I had ‘that' Statin conversation with my GP (in the middle of the first lockdown, when she was obviously twiddling her thumbs looking for work because they’d frightened all the patients away) she told me to go away and do my own research on line, and she could recommend looking on Diabetes.co.uk....

 

[Sharron1]

Last time I had ‘that' Statin conversation with my GP (in the middle of the first lockdown, when she was obviously twiddling her thumbs looking for work because they’d frightened all the patients away) she told me to go away and do my own research on line, and she could recommend looking on Diabetes.co.uk....

Want to swap?

 

[pippen]

My blood sugar went up while taking Statins...I'm off the statins for 6 months to see if any reduction in blood sugar levels.
My doctor suggested this.

 

[nonethewiser]

Hi, I am on the road to statins, good cholestrol ok, ,trigs ok but not so good bad cholestrol. Total cholestrol 7. Last chat with GP, she told me i shouldn't look for info on the internet, she wouldn't want me to have a heart attack and that i can never lower my cholesterol. But she didn't ask what I was concerned about and didn't tell me about Statins. It was an odd conversationFelt rather like a tick box exercise

Trouble with net its full of dodgy info & anti statin groups, if you do search look at reliable sources with no hidden agendas.

Started statin about 5 months ago, just low dose 20mg as cholesterol was good, no sign of side effects at all, told by consultant if did experience them then could stop or change to different one, but she thought that side effects were unlikely & only minority experience them.

What was reassuring to myself was statins are one of the most researched drugs & are considered safe.

 

[Stitch147]

@AndBreathe I've only ever seen the hospital diabetes team once since diagnosis and that's because I pushed and pushed for a referral. They referred me back to my gp.
My gp sat and had a good chat to me before I started on statins. I've never researched statins online, just went by what my gp said.
I'm just waiting now to see what the next steps will be regarding my latest hba1c results.
I should get a letter from gp by the end of the week.

 

[trophywench]

None of cholesterol is actually 'bad'. LDL usually get's lumped into the 'bad' category but hang on! There are two sorts of LDL, it contains ordinary low density lipid and also VERY low density lipid. Ordinary LDL does no harm - on the contrary, it is LDL and nothing else, which enables the body to repair the neurons in the brain whilst we are sleeping. We therefore actually NEED LDL.

What we don't need however, is VLDL.

Bearing in mind they cannot actually measure LDL at all, it is calculated from testing the amount of Trigs and HDL, and there are two ways of calculating it - Friedwald's formula and the Iranian formula, each of which results in different results.

Bet you're glad you mentioned it now aren't you?

Reduce the carbs in your diet and watch your cholesterol level descend, usually, anyway.

 

[AndBreathe]

@Stitch147 - I hope your GP has a discussion on statins on the agenda.

We need cholesterol in our bodies for cell membranes, metabolising Vit D and certain digestive processes.

I'm certainly not suggesting you slot into the "ladies of certain years and beyond", but there is a school of thought that for those in that grouping a slightly higher than usual cholesterol is advantageous.

As stated right up front, I'm not a fan of statins, and certainly not a fan of making any form of decision based on a Total Cholesterol number, as that's just a total that's more or less conveniently in a range bluntly considered good or less good.

The calculator in the following links look at our components and ratios, which is all useful information.

Report

CholesterolCode.com Report Tool 2.0 Coming Soon! We’re in the process of updating our report tool to its second version. We hope to have it launched shortly…

cholesterolcode.com

Cholesterol HDL/LDL/Triglycerides Ratios Calculator (SI Version in mmol/L)

My own report from the hughCalc site is as follows:



Bearing in mind my LDL particle has not been calculated, I am content with my levels.

Don't be mistaken Stitch, I respect anyone's decisions on their lipid, diabetes, or whatever. Only I live with the consequences of decisions I make, and similarly for everyone else, but if I'm honest, I would have concerns if my cholesterol dropped to 2.4. I'd be concerned there wasn't enough to do the vital things it needs to.

My days of going along with the "Trust me, I'm a doctor" are long in the past.

Unless tagged I won't comment further, as I don't want to get into a situation where I appear to be haranguing you. I'm just keen you have a decent appreciation of the complexity in play.

Good luck with it all Stitch.

 

[Sharron1]

Trouble with net its full of dodgy info & anti statin groups, if you do search look at reliable sources with no hidden agendas.

Started statin about 5 months ago, just low dose 20mg as cholesterol was good, no sign of side effects at all, told by consultant if did experience them then could stop or change to different one, but she thought that side effects were unlikely & only minority experience them.

What was reassuring to myself was statins are one of the most researched drugs & are considered safe.

Thank you. This is all I would like from my GP, some advice for me to think about. She doesn't really like any questions. I can't wait until we have the dosage amount duscussion...mind you the DN told me if I didn't feel ok with the statins to throw them away... it made me laugh.

 

[nonethewiser]

Thank you. This is all I would like from my GP, some advice for me to think about. She doesn't really like any questions. I can't wait until we have the dosage amount duscussion...mind you the DN told me if I didn't feel ok with the statins to throw them away... it made me laugh.

Suggest starting on low dose, better than going in on max dose, can be increased later if needed.