Re: Kaiser "cholesterol clinic" experience



"Ellen K." <firstinitiallastname@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:266jp.1421$pd.107@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kaiser has something called the "cholesterol clinic" which is phone consultations with a nurse practioner for people considered high risk. For diabetics, "high risk" is defined as LDL of 100 or more, so since mine was 102 this time, I got called for one.

The NP actually started by asking me if I had any ideas as to why my LDL went up from the previous 63, in response to which I offered my peanuts hypothesis.

Over the course of the conversation I made it very clear that I am committed to the low-carb regimen. She asked if I am following Atkins, I said no, I figured out what to eat based on my meter results. Blabla, she mentioned that Kaiser now recommends South Beach. (I haven't looked at it to see how it compares to the food exchange diet they previously handed me.)

At another point in the conversation she said that she was told by a nutritionist that the reason people's lipids can improve while eating more fat is that the liver doesn't know the source of fat in the system, so it sees the dietary fat and figures it doesn't need to make more cholesterol.

Leaving cholesterol aside, the body knows exactly the difference between those that cause inflammation and those that don't. Yes, the body does produce cholesterol and yes it has its benefits but it is excess cholesterol that has always been as damaging.

Another thing she said that people here might find of interest was that diabetics are more likely to have inflammation of the arteries, which is what puts us at greater risk for cardiovascular events. When I asked what causes that inflammation, she said fluctuations in BG. So to me this confirms that minimizing spikes is a Good Idea.

Read more on my pet topic ;) Sat fat, inflammation, endothelium....

When I told her I really want to go off the simvastatin or at least reduce the dose, she said recent studies have shown statins are protective against Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, and colorectal cancer, quite apart from their effect on lipids.

Yes I have seen studies about those conditions. I can't take statins as all give me immediate (same day) excruciatingly painful and weak muscles. Weak enough that I can't walk without legs collapsing and painful enough that stong pain killers don't put a dent in the pain. People need to weigh up the pros and cons for themselves.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Doctor Reviews my Test Numbers
    ... He was however very concerned about my LDL number. ... alone would achieve LDL levels below 70 mg/dL though someone may have ... reasonably have been achieved by most T2 diabetics. ... Ideally total cholesterol levels should be below 5mmol/L. ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • Re: Kaiser "cholesterol clinic" experience
    ... For diabetics, "high risk" is defined as LDL of 100 or more, so since mine was 102 this time, I got called for one. ... The NP actually started by asking me if I had any ideas as to why my LDL went up from the previous 63, in response to which I offered my peanuts hypothesis. ... At another point in the conversation she said that she was told by a nutritionist that the reason people's lipids can improve while eating more fat is that the liver doesn't know the source of fat in the system, so it sees the dietary fat and figures it doesn't need to make more cholesterol. ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • Re: Kaiser "cholesterol clinic" experience
    ... For diabetics, "high risk" is defined as LDL of 100 or more, so since mine ... The NP actually started by asking me if I had any ideas as to why my LDL ... fat is that the liver doesn't know the source of fat in the system, ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • DOCTORS RECOMMEND BIG FAT CUTS IN CHOLESTEROL
    ... Doctors recommend big fat cuts in cholesterol ... For people at moderately high risk, lowering the LDL to ... The recommendations were published today in the journal ...
    (sci.med)
  • DOCTORS RECOMMEND BIG FAT CUTS IN CHOLESTEROL
    ... Doctors recommend big fat cuts in cholesterol ... For people at moderately high risk, lowering the LDL to ... The recommendations were published today in the journal ...
    (sci.med.cardiology)