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If you are an adult with type 1 diabetes, without looking at your medical records, do you know whether your most recent LDL cholesterol level was above, below, or equal to 100 mg/dl?
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I keep an Excel spreadsheet of blood work going back to 1974.
LDL data averages 80.7. Sometimes, it’s so low it cannot be calculated. HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and cholesterol are all in double digits. Well, no. Cholesterol is three digits averaging 150. (〜^∇^)〜
I know the value was really good, but don’t remember what the actual value was.
I answered then I looked. It is 30 because I am prescribed a statin.
It is now always below 100. I take 40 mg of simvastatin and have done so for about the last 25 years.
I only remember that it wasn’t too high.
My LDL is just slightly above 100 but my HCP and I are not concerned because my HDL is , too.
Yes because for the first time mine was high. I switched from eating Tuna without mayo for lunch to Turkey breast with sometimes a teaspoon or less of mayo, so I will convince my doctor that I can control it with diet. I don’t want to be on a statin. Digging down and making sure I eat healthier. All other numbers are OK except thyroid and I was checked for cancer, so nothing there. And I hated the thyroid medicine so doc said I could go off.
Interestingly the only time my LDL levels were elevated above normal was when I was hypothyroid. After figuring out my Synthroid dose and getting my thyroid levels back in normal limits, my cholesterol returned to normal too.
knew mine was under 70 but looked it up and it was 60. my endo told me that diabetics have the risk factor for a heart attack like someone who has already had one and that my target was 70. take 10 mg of simvastatin
So why shouldn’t we eat more high cholesterol foods and take a higher dose of statins? After all, that’s how we’re told to treat diabetes 😑
Bahaha. Exactly why i don’t take statins. As a cardiac RN I notice low LDL with no lifestyle changes equals cardiac stents. How does that happen when LDL is 40. Mmm 🤔
I don’t know the exact number without looking but do know that all values relating to cholesterol is well within normal range. No cholesterol meds.
Although I selected “Yes – My LDL was above 100 mg/dl” I had to do a quick calculation as I live in the UK, where our cholesterol measurements are delivered in mmol/l (millimols per litre … that’s liter for my American cousins).
To change mmol/l to mg/dl you simply multiply by 18. Likewise, if you wish to convert from mg/dl to mmol/l you divide by 18.
I’m Canadian so had to do the calculation as well. I googled it and was told to multiply by 38.67.
The multiplier 18 applies to blood glucose, rather than LDL.
My LDL is 106 without a statin. I refuse to take
Statins. Last month my cardiologist suggested Cholestoff, garlic and ginger. Will be o retested to see if this works to get under 100.
For the first time ever, mine was 142. I was in the 60’s and 70’s before. I had decided to experiment for six months and not take my Pravastatin. Well, I got a big surprise and now I’m back on the statin. I eat a lot of Keto, so maybe that played a part in the rise???
Read this paper in the British Medical Journal: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/9/e007118
You will see how little effect that taking a statin has on your survival. Reducing your average A1C by 0.5 will extend your life and your quality of life by more than taking a statin. Statins also increase your insulin resistance and make it harder to control your blood sugar.
Wow! Thanks for this info!
My weakness in lowering my LDL is morning breakfast…… (2 strips of bacon and a sausage patty). I need to change to a ‘bacon want to be’ product…
Equal to.
I’ve had great cholesterol readings for years, partly due to the atorvastatin I’m on. I get tested at least every 6 months and doctors, both PCP and Endo, comment on it, so I don’t worry about it.
My last LDL was 79—yes, I do know.
Below, but I’m also on a statin. Without that I’m above.
Same here.
My LDL was 101.
Mine was over 100, but my tsh was also .0005. Normally it is at about 80.
Never had a cholesterol problem, but I’m on 10 mg simvastatin daily…”as a precaution/preventative.” sdimond’s comment is making me wonder. Do I REALLY need this?