Blood Sugar and Cholesterol levels.

[OldMcDonald]

Four weeks ago today I had an operation to replace a valve in my heart and to bypass three partially blocked arteries. Prior to this my knowledge of human medical matters was zero.

After a few tests in a general hospital before being transferred to the specialist heart hospital, the head cardiologist had come to me and said çš„t is strange that you have so much damage. You do not have hypertension, you are not diabetic, you are not obese, do not have a cholesterol problem and have never smoked. I am 75 years old and still farming full time so get plenty of exercise. Not at present obviously, but a few more weeks and I will return to light work.

Later, it was decided my blood sugar levels were higher than desirable, and to prevent long term possible future problems I should keep cholesterol levels low too. Consequently I have accepted the medication prescribed by the specialist hospital, but I am averse to taking drugs of any description (except alcohol mainly wine) and would like a diet that reduces blood sugar and cholesterol. I check my blood sugar every morning and it is lower now than when in hospital but I would like to reduce it further.

My wife trained in nutrition and cookery and we eat very healthily. No snacks between meals. This healthy diet has been confirmed by much reading since my discharge from hospital three weeks ago. What we eat, and have done through 48 years of my wife's cooking, should keep sugar and cholesterol levels down, but both are higher than desirable.

I am sure there are members out there with similar views to myself about being drug reliant and feeding the bonuses of Big Pharma employees, so, anyone had a similar experience and what did you do to lower blood sugar and cholesterol? Bear in mind there appears to be nothing to cut out of our diet, but there may be things we could add. For instance I have begun to add a small amount of cinnamon to my morning large bowl of porridge. I read it can help, and no harm done in trying.

 

[oosik]

I'm type 2 diabetic and changing my diet, loosing weight, more exercise DID lower my cholesterol & blood sugar levels. But not to the levels the Dr wanted. The prescribed meds did the trick. I guess it's all in the way the dice are rolled. It works for some - not for others.

 

[mikester]

Cutting out alcohol will have a big effect on blood sugar. Increase dietary fibre and physical activities. Cut out processed starches I.e. foods that come in a box.

 

[RNeumann]

You mention about 3 times your diet is good and then end by stating you eat porridge for breakfast. In one case you are asking for advise and the other you are stating the diet is good- pick a lane.

If you want help and are willing to hear and accept different ideas I’d talk to your MD and request some visits with a nutritionist. If it’s not covered obviously that’s an out of pocket expense. The food pyramid is out, some would say up side down. The two foods you did mention (grains and wine) will raise bs. Snacking isn’t necessarily bad. I say all that to point out what you are your wife were taught many years ago runs contrary to a lot of today’s best practices.

A lot of folks don’t like the meds. A lot of folks want to make the changes so they don’t need the meds. I think with some tweaks you can get there. It’s a plus that your wife is on board. Get some professional food advice- that may be your ticket to success. Good luck with the recovery. It sounds like full CABG instead of stints. That can take a bit until you get your chest muscles and skeleton all going good again.

As a side note. Coronary Artery Disease can be caused by many different things. Genetics play a role along with what you mentioned above- diet and exercise. All of these items are “risk factors”, not causes. It sounds like you’ve done way more right than wrong with regards to taking care of yourself. Something outside of your control was likely the root cause- based on your write-up.

Another side note- I get not wanting to be on meds- I’m with you on that. A lot of times, with diet, you can get off both the bs med (for type 2 diabetes) and the cholesterol med (typically a statin). Read up and talk to your md about a prophylactic statin. Seems more and more folks are seeing positive results with a statin one day a week or on a limited basis. The folks who tend to see the good results have high normal or normal levels before taking the low dose or prophylactic dose.

 

[Bocephous]

Your body produces about 75% of your cholesterol and uses it for repair to cells.

Cholesterol is needed by your body, and it is debatable whether or not changing your diet can actually have as pronounced effect on your levels as people believe. If your body needs it, it will produce it.

Two things I'd cut out of your diet as much as possible are sugars and hydrogenated vegetable oils. They have been known to cause inflammation in your body, and your body will repair that inflammation with cholesterol. It that damage is in your arteries it sets the stage for a cardiovascular event.

I am not a doctor, so do your own research on this.

The Cholesterol-Inflammation Connection - Health

A test your doctor can order that will tell a lot about inflammation in your body is the CRP blood test. Lower CRP levels have been shown to be an indicator of lower risk of a cardio event.

 

[Egon]

See a nutritionists and get proper advice.

Eliminate all processed food and bottled carbonated drinks and fruit juice. Learn how to understand food content labeling.

 

[CADplans]

Times change, and so should your diet,,
in 1962, my father was not considered a heavy drinker (HE WAS a heavy drinker!!)
he died of cirrhosis of the liver at age 52,,

You say your wife is trained in nutrition, but, I assume she is a similar age as you.
When did she receive the training? Possibly correct information is different now?

If you had told me 13 months ago that the diet I needed to be on KETO, I would not have believed it,,

My wife is border-line diabetic,, a year ago, we started a KETO diet.
Well, she no longer takes diabetes meds,, and her pain med use has reduced.
We have both lost the weight that we were trying to get rid of,,,

In my opinion, at 75, I feel you will not achieve your health goals until the alcohol is eliminated,,
and the porridge will have to be eliminated, also,,

I admit KETO is so controversial that there have been MAJOR lawsuits over the concept.
For us, it has been a life changer in a very positive way.
It is the first diet we have tried that I am not hungry, and it has produced the results that I wanted.

Maybe you need to try something totally new, rather than a minor tweak to your old diet?

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

I'm almost a year since I had a 'bad' blood work test done. Went cold turkey on a low-carb diet which is very close to the Keto diet. in 6 months my AIC went from 10.5 to 5.9, feeling good about up coming blood work in a couple weeks. Lost about 60 pounds
I now tell everybody that I'm on a No GPS diet. No Grains, No Potatoes, No Sugar.
Have you looked into intermittent fasting? 12-18 hours between last meal of day and first of the next day.

Dave

 

[Bocephous]

I'm almost a year since I had a 'bad' blood work test done. Went cold turkey on a low-carb diet which is very close to the Keto diet. in 6 months my AIC went from 10.5 to 5.9, feeling good about up coming blood work in a couple weeks. Lost about 60 pounds
I now tell everybody that I'm on a No GPS diet. No Grains, No Potatoes, No Sugar.
Have you looked into intermittent fasting? 12-18 hours between last meal of day and first of the next day.

Dave

Times change, and so should your diet,,
in 1962, my father was not considered a heavy drinker (HE WAS a heavy drinker!!)
he died of cirrhosis of the liver at age 52,,

You say your wife is trained in nutrition, but, I assume she is a similar age as you.
When did she receive the training? Possibly correct information is different now?

If you had told me 13 months ago that the diet I needed to be on KETO, I would not have believed it,,

My wife is border-line diabetic,, a year ago, we started a KETO diet.
Well, she no longer takes diabetes meds,, and her pain med use has reduced.
We have both lost the weight that we were trying to get rid of,,,

In my opinion, at 75, I feel you will not achieve your health goals until the alcohol is eliminated,,
and the porridge will have to be eliminated, also,,

I admit KETO is so controversial that there have been MAJOR lawsuits over the concept.
For us, it has been a life changer in a very positive way.
It is the first diet we have tried that I am not hungry, and it has produced the results that I wanted.

Maybe you need to try something totally new, rather than a minor tweak to your old diet?

Good advice from both these posts. The FDA's recommendations have turned a lot of people in this country into obese diabetics since the 1970's.

 

[Big Barn]

You mention about 3 times your diet is good and then end by stating you eat porridge for breakfast. In one case you are asking for advise and the other you are stating the diet is good- pick a lane.

If you want help and are willing to hear and accept different ideas I’d talk to your MD and request some visits with a nutritionist. If it’s not covered obviously that’s an out of pocket expense. The food pyramid is out, some would say up side down. The two foods you did mention (grains and wine) will raise bs. Snacking isn’t necessarily bad. I say all that to point out what you are your wife were taught many years ago runs contrary to a lot of today’s best practices.

A lot of folks don’t like the meds. A lot of folks want to make the changes so they don’t need the meds. I think with some tweaks you can get there. It’s a plus that your wife is on board. Get some professional food advice- that may be your ticket to success. Good luck with the recovery. It sounds like full CABG instead of stints. That can take a bit until you get your chest muscles and skeleton all going good again.

As a side note. Coronary Artery Disease can be caused by many different things. Genetics play a role along with what you mentioned above- diet and exercise. All of these items are “risk factors”, not causes. It sounds like you’ve done way more right than wrong with regards to taking care of yourself. Something outside of your control was likely the root cause- based on your write-up.

Another side note- I get not wanting to be on meds- I’m with you on that. A lot of times, with diet, you can get off both the bs med (for type 2 diabetes) and the cholesterol med (typically a statin). Read up and talk to your md about a prophylactic statin. Seems more and more folks are seeing positive results with a statin one day a week or on a limited basis. The folks who tend to see the good results have high normal or normal levels before taking the low dose or prophylactic dose.

Wow. Thank you. All my random thoughts and comments documented nicely in a single post. I know I couldn’t have said it better.

 

[txdon]

Heart disease is a food related disease. To stop the progression you need a whole food plant based diet with no added oils.

 

[Egon]

Heart disease is a food related disease. To stop the progression you need a whole food plant based diet with no added oils.

Genetics don’t count?

 

[txdon]

. . .and to bypass three partially blocked arteries . . .
. . . anyone had a similar experience and what did you do to lower blood sugar and cholesterol? Bear in mind there appears to be nothing to cut out of our diet, but there may be things we could add. For instance I have begun to add a small amount of cinnamon to my morning large bowl of porridge. I read it can help, and no harm done in trying.

Genetics don’t count?

Egon, At this stage Old MacDonald has heart disease and his primary concern is a dietary cure, not the debate if his diet or his hereditary played a bigger part in his blocked arteries.

 

[txdon]

Also Egon, it was not my original thought or opinion that heart disease is food related. Since my heart disease has been and is being closely monitored in a 10 year study along with 1200 others I now agree with
Dr. Kim Allan Williams, MD, FACC, FASNC, FAHA
President, American College of Cardiology (2015)
Chief of Cardiology, Rush University in Chicago
Dr Kim Williams: exposes the true cause of Heart Disease - YouTube

In 2015 to learn more I went to one of his conferences in Chicago where there were a hundred Cardiologist they all agreed with him. It was a conference for health professionals and I was able to get in by . . . that's another story.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately nobody has addressed the purpose of the OP. I am not seeking dietary advice. There is a plethora of information on the internet regarding good practice for both cholesterol and blood sugar control. There are a huge number of government, diabetes organisations and other sources from all over the world with websites and articles specifically relating to diabetes and cholesterol. On the whole they all agree, the exception being the various keto diets, which appear to be yet another “fad” idea very similar to Paleo and Atkins diets.

The reason for the OP, and as stated therein, was to enquire whether any member had suggestions for adding something (similar to the addition of cinnamon to my porridge) that had assisted them to lower either or both blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The question still stands.

A few comments on some suggestions:-

I do not need to lose weight. I have shorts and trousers bought decades ago with a 38” waist and that I still wear. The suggestion from the heart specialist at my discharge consultation was that I keep the sugar and cholesterol levels down because any long term future problems would most likely be due to either becoming diabetic or cholesterol increasing. If I kept them in check there was no reason to think I would ever have a repeat problem. I am not on any medication relating to blood sugar, but, reluctantly, I am currently on a course to help lower cholesterol. A major aim is to cease this medication. I was told the partial artery blockages were calcium and a normal ageing process expectation, nothing to do with my diet.

One to two glasses of dry red wine with dinner (about 125ml/4 US ounces per glass) is not only considered to be not a problem, it is recommended by many in the medical profession. I am presently not allowed to do anything very much by way of exercise, only short gentle walks. These are somewhat restricted due to the fact that I have four rather large cuts on one leg where they removed some vein to perform the artery bypasses. I am not allowed to lift more than one kilo (2+ pounds) and am not to raise my arms above my head, nor am I to drive. I have another month of these restrictions before I can begin to return to my normal 40 hours or thereabouts a week of physical exercise, which ranges from light to strenuous as I do my daily work around the farm. My three meals a day are normally taken about 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7.30 to 8 p.m. so there is a natural fasting period broken with “break fast”.

We do not eat any pre-prepared foods. The only processed food is the occasional slice of bacon or ham. We have always had a low salt, low sugar and high fibre diet. My wife does not add any salt or sugar to meals she prepares, but of course there are some naturally in foods. The only oil she ever uses is our own extra virgin olive oil. I do not drink any soft drinks. The reason I mentioned my wife being trained in nutrition was not to claim she was an expert nutritionist, but to show that she understood about dietary requirements in general and the contents of purchased groceries. It is indeed a long time since she trained, but her knowledge is up to date, and has been refreshed over the last few weeks as she has sought sources of information to assist her when I returned home. As stated, there is a lot of info out there.

The porridge I have for breakfast is simply rolled whole oats with nothing added. As mentioned in the OP I now add cinnamon as I have seen several references to it being useful in relation to lowering sugar levels. On that note, my readings in hospital were as high as 274 with many in the 230 to 260 range. I was an inpatient for 4 weeks and tested up to 3 times a day. Anything over 200 warranted an insulin shot. Since returning home and porridge every morning, I have never reached 200. Porridge is also widely recommended for general heart health and cholesterol lowering.

 

[Bird]

Yesterday, my doctor said my heart rate, heart sound, blood pressure, etc. everything in the blood tests came back good, EXCEPT for the cholesterol being a bit high. I don't recall EVER having a blood test without that same result.:laughing: Now I'm having my third cup of coffee, then I've gotta go fry up some bacon.

 

[Egon]

Yesterday, my doctor said my heart rate, heart sound, blood pressure, etc. everything in the blood tests came back good, EXCEPT for the cholesterol being a bit high. I don't recall EVER having a blood test without that same result.:laughing: Now I'm having my third cup of coffee, then I've gotta go fry up some bacon.

I’m just on the first cup. Then it’s on to making a breakfast as pictured.

 

[Deere Dude]

I'm almost a year since I had a 'bad' blood work test done. Went cold turkey on a low-carb diet which is very close to the Keto diet. in 6 months my AIC went from 10.5 to 5.9, feeling good about up coming blood work in a couple weeks. Lost about 60 pounds
I now tell everybody that I'm on a No GPS diet. No Grains, No Potatoes, No Sugar.
Have you looked into intermittent fasting? 12-18 hours between last meal of day and first of the next day.

Dave

A 6'1" 50 yo friend weighed in at 236 with high BP and Chloresteral and blood sugar. He was high on the obese scale on the chart. I thought he was normal actually.

Over a two year period until last week he lost down to 175 which is right at normal on the chart. All the readings came down to normal.

He did it by basic fasting and watching what he ate, no doubt. He would skip breakfast, most of the time skip dinner except a handful of veggies and then go light at supper. He would just have water and coffee to keep hunger pains away for up to 18 hrs at a time.

He made a line line graph chart so see progress for more incentive.

I started trying that last week but is difficult when the wife is a cooker and thinks I need 3 squares a day, plus snacks before bed.

 

[RNeumann]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately nobody has addressed the purpose of the OP. I am not seeking dietary advice. There is a plethora of information on the internet regarding good practice for both cholesterol and blood sugar control. There are a huge number of government, diabetes organisations and other sources from all over the world with websites and articles specifically relating to diabetes and cholesterol. On the whole they all agree, the exception being the various keto diets, which appear to be yet another “fad” idea very similar to Paleo and Atkins diets.

The reason for the OP, and as stated therein, was to enquire whether any member had suggestions for adding something (similar to the addition of cinnamon to my porridge) that had assisted them to lower either or both blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The question still stands.

A few comments on some suggestions:-

I do not need to lose weight. I have shorts and trousers bought decades ago with a 38” waist and that I still wear. The suggestion from the heart specialist at my discharge consultation was that I keep the sugar and cholesterol levels down because any long term future problems would most likely be due to either becoming diabetic or cholesterol increasing. If I kept them in check there was no reason to think I would ever have a repeat problem. I am not on any medication relating to blood sugar, but, reluctantly, I am currently on a course to help lower cholesterol. A major aim is to cease this medication. I was told the partial artery blockages were calcium and a normal ageing process expectation, nothing to do with my diet.

One to two glasses of dry red wine with dinner (about 125ml/4 US ounces per glass) is not only considered to be not a problem, it is recommended by many in the medical profession. I am presently not allowed to do anything very much by way of exercise, only short gentle walks. These are somewhat restricted due to the fact that I have four rather large cuts on one leg where they removed some vein to perform the artery bypasses. I am not allowed to lift more than one kilo (2+ pounds) and am not to raise my arms above my head, nor am I to drive. I have another month of these restrictions before I can begin to return to my normal 40 hours or thereabouts a week of physical exercise, which ranges from light to strenuous as I do my daily work around the farm. My three meals a day are normally taken about 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7.30 to 8 p.m. so there is a natural fasting period broken with “break fast”.

We do not eat any pre-prepared foods. The only processed food is the occasional slice of bacon or ham. We have always had a low salt, low sugar and high fibre diet. My wife does not add any salt or sugar to meals she prepares, but of course there are some naturally in foods. The only oil she ever uses is our own extra virgin olive oil. I do not drink any soft drinks. The reason I mentioned my wife being trained in nutrition was not to claim she was an expert nutritionist, but to show that she understood about dietary requirements in general and the contents of purchased groceries. It is indeed a long time since she trained, but her knowledge is up to date, and has been refreshed over the last few weeks as she has sought sources of information to assist her when I returned home. As stated, there is a lot of info out there.

The porridge I have for breakfast is simply rolled whole oats with nothing added. As mentioned in the OP I now add cinnamon as I have seen several references to it being useful in relation to lowering sugar levels. On that note, my readings in hospital were as high as 274 with many in the 230 to 260 range. I was an inpatient for 4 weeks and tested up to 3 times a day. Anything over 200 warranted an insulin shot. Since returning home and porridge every morning, I have never reached 200. Porridge is also widely recommended for general heart health and cholesterol lowering.

Paragraph 1....I don’t want dietary advise

Paragraph 2.....I’m looking for ways to lower my blood sugar and cholesterol

Is this a prank post!?!?

 

[DMax82]

I eat a cup of oats every morning. To that I add a cup of frozen berries, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a tablespoon of either flaxseed, hemp seeds, or chia seeds. The berries are nice because they very quickly cool down the hot oatmeal and really sweeten it.

On a side note, I am four months into a whole food plant based diet. Results are mixed, but I have not been as diligent as I need to be.