What Are The Symptoms Of High Cholesterol
Lifestyle factors include:
- an unhealthy diet– eating too much saturated fat is thought to increase levels of LDL or bad cholesterol
- lack of exercise – ;this can also increase your levels of LDL
- obesity – being overweight often means you also have higher levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and a lower level of the good HDL.
- drinking too much alcohol;
- smoking – if you smoke, a chemical in cigarettes called acrolein stops the good HDL from moving fatty deposits to your liver
Underlying conditions
- kidney disease
- transient ischaemic attack – or a mini stroke
- peripheral arterial disease
Personal Care Assistant Services
As you age, you are not always able to care for yourself and do all the things you were once able to do on your own. Your diet can sometimes suffer because of this. Centric Healthcare offers Personal Care Assistant services that can help. PCA services are social care programs which assist with non-medical needs of persons who arent getting around as well as they once did and allow them to live in their own home instead of being placed in an institution. PCAs can help you meal plan, grocery shop, prepare your meals and assist you with many other basic activities of daily living.
Do We Need Drugs To Reduce Tg And/or Increase Hdl Cholesterol Levels
Statins are potent in reducing LDL cholesterol levels and CAD risk, and statin therapy in patients with lower HDL cholesterol levels reduces coronary risk to approximately that of patients with higher HDL cholesterol levels on placebo. But even statins fail to eliminate most of the risk, especially in subjects at high risk, such as diabetic patients. In the Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study , treatment of diabetic patients with atorvastatin reduced the risk for major cardiovascular events by approximately one-third , leaving two-thirds of the risk unaffected. In the Treating-to-New-Targets study, significantly more patients with metabolic syndrome than those without had a major cardiovascular event, irrespective of statin treatment .
A post hoc analysis of the TNT study demonstrated that the HDL cholesterol level was predictive of major cardiovascular events also in patients receiving statins . Even among statin-treated subjects who achieved LDL cholesterol levels below 70 mg/dl, the subjects in the highest quintile of HDL cholesterol levels were at less risk for major cardiovascular events than those in the lowest quintile.
However, although statins can reduce LDL cholesterol levels by as much as 50% or more, their effect on HDL cholesterol levels is modest, at best. These data demonstrate the need for TG-reducing and/or HDL cholesterolâelevating therapy with a proven efficacy in terms of reducing morbidity and mortality.
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What Foods Or Supplements Have Natural Cholesterol Lowering Properties
There are a number of supplements that people use to lower LDL-C and triglycerides. Make sure to talk with your health care provider about which ones are safe for you to try. Some listed are proven to reduce cholesterol, and some have not been proven to lower cholesterol. Its important to have a conversation with your doctor if you decide to start any new supplements.
What Reduces Cholesterol Quickly
There is no quick fix for reducing cholesterol. But there are plenty of ways to reduce your cholesterol naturally. Eating a high fiber diet, reducing saturated fat, weight loss , exercise, and smoking cessation are just some of the things within your control. If lifestyle interventions are unsuccessful, medication is always an option.
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Other Severe Symptoms Of Hyperglycaemia Include:
- Nerve damage
- Kidney damage
- Blood vessel damage
Mild hyperglycaemia, depending on the cause, will not typically require medical treatment. Most people with this condition can lower their blood sugar levels sufficiently through dietary and lifestyle changes.
Those with type 1 diabetes will require the administration of insulin , while those with type 2 diabetes will often use a combination of injectable and oral medications , although some may also require insulin.
What Foods Cause High Cholesterol
Eating foods high in saturated fats and trans fats can raise your LDL and total cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in red meats, full-fat dairy products, and many processed foods. Trans fats are sometimes listed on food labels as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Trans fats are so unhealthy that the Food and Drug Administration has actually banned them as of January 1, 2021. Foods that can contribute to high cholesterol include:
Fatty beef, lamb, or pork
Poultry with skin
Butter, cheese, and other dairy products made with whole milk
Lard and shortening
A diet that helps you lower your cholesterol can include:
Plenty of vegetables and fruits
Avocados
Tree nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pecans
Fatty fish like salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel, herring, and sardines
High-fiber foods like oatmeal and oat bran
Low-fat dairy foods
Some foods like margarine, yogurt, and orange juice can have sterols or stanols added to them. These plant-based substances help your body block the absorption of cholesterol from your diet and lower LDL levels.
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Improve Your Abcs With Heart
Your doctor will likely advise you to eat well and exercise most days to help manage your ABCs. These tips can help you get there:
- Watch Your Blood Sugar: Keep clear records of your blood sugar levels. Write down anything that may have affected your blood sugar. Then you can see how diet, exercise, and any drugs you take affect your readings. Talk to your doctor or diabetes team about what you can do to improve your blood sugar control.
- Control Your Weight: If you’re overweight, lose weight by eating healthier. Get more exercise to help control your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
- Get Moving: Do 30 to 60 minutes of combined aerobic and strength training exercises, such as brisk walking or lifting weights, on most days. Even without weight loss, being active helps your diabetes control.
- Eat Healthy: Fill your plate with lots of fruits and vegetables. Choose foods low in salt and sugar. Eat plenty of fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal. Choose heart-healthy fats such as olive and canola oil, fatty fish, nuts, and avocados. If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation.
- Take Drugs as Prescribed: Take your diabetes drugs exactly as your doctor advises, even when you feel healthy.
- Quit Smoking: If you’re a smoker, get help to quit. Try a smoking cessation program to boost your chance of success.
- Get Support: Ask your family and friends to help you stick to a heart-healthy lifestyle.
People Who Have Type 2 Diabetes Are At Significantly Higher Risk Of Developing Heart Disease And The Most Obvious Sign Is High Blood Cholesterol
Diabetic hyperlipidemia sounds a bit intimidating, doesnt it?; As we always do here on EndocrineWeb, were going to break down that concept for you, and thats why weve put together this Patients Guide to Treating High Cholesterol in people who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Diabetic hyperlipidemia is, in fact, having high cholesterol when you have diabetes.; The parts of the word hyperlipidemia break into:
- hyper:;high
- lipid: scientific term referring to fat, cholesterol, and fat-like substances in the body
- emia:; in the blood
So all together, hyperlipidemia means that you have too many lipids, especially cholesterol, in your blood.; High cholesterol is dangerous for anyone, but as someone with type 2 diabetes, its particularly important that you get treatment for high cholesterol.
Youre probably aware that diabetes can come with a host of complicationsif you dont take good care of our blood glucose levels and overall health.; Cardiovascular complications are common in people with type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol can also harm your cardiovascular health.
Taking care of your high cholesterol will help lower your cardiovascular risk, so in this Patients Guide to Treating High Cholesterol and Diabetes, well be covering:
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What Is Bad Cholesterol
Cholesterol moves in the body combined with proteins. This combination of cholesterol and proteins is called lipoproteins. The low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol is called bad cholesterol. High levels of this cholesterol increase risk for heart diseases and stroke.
When you have high levels of LDL cholesterol in the body, the LDL cholesterol can accumulate on the walls of the blood vessels forming a plaque. The continuous cholesterol build-up or a plaque narrows the inside of the blood vessels with time. The narrowed blood vessel hampers the blood supply to the concerned organ. Thus, when the plaque is present in the heart, it can cause angina or a heart attack. Plaque build-up in the brain can cause a stroke.
Another type of cholesterol is HDL; cholesterol. It is also called good;cholesterol as it absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver. The liver then removes the cholesterol from the body. HDL cholesterol, thus, can lower your risk for heart diseases and stroke.
Find Out If You’re At Risk
To find out your risk, speak to your doctor, use Diabetes UK’s Know Your Risk tool, or have an NHS Health Check.If you’re at moderate to high risk, speak to your GP about a blood test to check your blood sugar levels. This means you can take action now to prevent diabetes from developing and avoid and complications and medications.;
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Levels In The Morning
The best time to check blood sugar levels in the morning is right when you wake up and before you eat anything. This gives you a glimpse of what may be happening overnight, and it gives you a baseline for the day.
These are goal levels, according to;The Joslin Diabetes Center:
- Under 70 mg/dl if you do not have diabetes.
- 70 to 130 mg/dl if you have diabetes.
The dawn effect can often lead to a high morning measurement in diabetes. This is your bodys tendency to get ready for the day by raising blood sugar by increasing levels of counter-regulatory hormones the ones that counteract insulin as in normal blood sugar. For people with diabetes, you do not have the capacity to counterbalance this rise in blood sugar, so levels can be dangerously high.
Ways to lower your morning blood sugar value include:
- Eating dinner earlier
- Checking your medications making sure you are taking them properly and asking your doctor if they are correct
- Going for a walk after dinner
- Including protein with your dinner
What Are Target Blood Sugar Levels For People With Diabetes
A target is something that you aim for or try to reach. Your health care team may also use the term goal. People with diabetes have blood sugar targets that they try to reach at different times of the day. These targets are:
- Right before your meal: 80 to 130
- Two hours after the start of the meal: Below 180
Talk with your health care team about what blood sugar numbers are right for you.
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At What Cholesterol Level Is Medication Required
There is so much talk about the dangers of high cholesterol, you may start to think that all cholesterol is bad. In truth, your body needs cholesterol. This waxy fat, or lipid, is necessary for digestion, building cells, making certain hormones, and for ensuring normal organ function. However, as it is with many things that are good for you in the right amount, too much of it can cause serious health problems.
Your liver produces all of the cholesterol your body needs. Your body also absorbs cholesterol directly from certain foods you eat. When you intake some cholesterol from your diet, your body is normally able to adjust the amount produced by your liver to avoid having too much. Eating too many high-cholesterol foods, and having conditions that cause your liver to produce too much can lead to high blood cholesterol levels sometimes known as lipid disorder, hyperlipidemia, or hypercholesterolemia.
The Chemical Composition Of Cholesterol
Technically and chemically, cholesterol is a steroid alcohol, namely C27H45OH, and it has the responsibility of moving fluid across cell membranes, and participating in various metabolic functions in the body. As has been said before, everything in moderation. This is also true for cholesterol, as increased bad cholesterol, or LDL increases a persons risk for heart disease.
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What Should I Do If My Blood Sugar Gets Too High
High blood sugar is also called hyperglycemia . It means that your blood sugar level is higher than your target level or over 180. Having high blood sugar levels over time can lead to long-term, serious health problems.
If you feel very tired, thirsty, have blurry vision, or need to pee more often, your blood sugar may be high.
Check your blood sugar and see if it is above your target level or over 180. If it is too high, one way to lower it is to drink a large glass of water and exercise by taking a brisk walk. Call your health care team if your blood sugar is high more than 3 times in 2 weeks and you dont know why.
Does Having Higher Cholesterol Levels Present A Risk Factor For Diabetes
Diabetes has actually been determined to be a coronary heart disease risk factor. So just like smoking and inactivity, diabetes predisposes you to CHD. To put this into perspective, the risk for a CHD in a diabetic patient with no previous CHD is the same as for those of people without diabetes, and no heart disease. Thats significant. Not only that, but people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from a coronary event, with risk of death especially greater in the first 28 days following a coronary event. Women with diabetes were even more likely to die following a coronary event. Research in this area has been replicated, and is reliable.
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What Is Low Blood Sugar
Hypoglycaemia is a condition wherein blood sugar levels are too low. This condition affects a number of diabetic people when their bodies do not have enough glucose to use as energy. Hypoglycaemia is commonly the result of taking too much of the medication/s prescribed to treat diabetes, eating less than expected, exercising more than normal or skipping meals.
Some of the symptoms of hypoglycaemia include:
- A pale face
Qualitative Lipid Abnormalities In Type 1 Diabetes
Several qualitative abnormalities of lipoproteins are observed in patients with type 1 diabetes, even in those with good metabolic control, who do not have significant quantitative lipid changes. These qualitative lipid abnormalities are not totally reversed by optimal glycemic control and are likely to be atherogenic.
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What In The World Is Red Yeast Rice
Weird as it sounds; red yeast rice is a fungus that grows on rice. Asian countries use it for a food coloring and a medication. It has become popular in western countries because it tends to stop cholesterol production in the liver. It has sort of a natural form of statin in it, like the statin medications used to lower cholesterol. If you are one of the people that has trouble taking statins due to side effects, or dont want to take them for one reason or another, ask your doctor if red yeast rice might help you lower your cholesterol.
In one study, subjects that got muscular pain while on statins were able to take 1800 mg of red yeast rice twice a day for 24 weeks. The average drop in LDL-C was 35 mg/dl. In China, one study showed a 30 percent reduction in cardiovascular risk with long term use of red yeast rice. In the US, its a supplement so its not FDA regulated. Keep that in mind when taking any supplements in the US.
Always talk with your doctor, and have him or her to check your liver enzymes before starting red yeast rice supplements.
How To Reduce Blood Sugar
You can take steps to reach your blood sugar goals as soon as you find out that it is high. This is how to reduce blood sugar if you have a single high reading that may be dangerous:
- Ask your doctor what to do if you missed a dose of insulin or another diabetes medication
- Ask your doctor if your medication types and doses are still appropriate for you
- Drink water to dilute the sugar
- Exercise for 15 minutes
- Eat a small protein snack, such as a hard-boiled egg, ½ ounce of peanuts or pistachios or other nuts, ½ cup of beans, or ½ cup of plain yogurt or cottage cheese
If you have chronically high blood sugar in prediabetes or diabetes, you can follow this treatment plan:
- Exercise regularly, assuming your doctor approves it
- Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
- Eat a higher proportion of vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fruit
- Limit sugary foods and beverages, fried foods, refined starches, and processed and fatty red meats
- Beware of starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, which can spike your blood sugar. Check out our guide of which veggies to avoid!
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Treating And Managing High Cholesterol
If youve been diagnosed with diabetes, you know that controlling your blood sugar levels is important. The more you can keep these levels down, the lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and other health problems.
Having diabetes puts you at a higher risk for developing high cholesterol. As you watch your blood sugar numbers, watch your cholesterol numbers too.
Here, we explain why these two conditions often show up together, and how you can manage both with practical lifestyle approaches.