Could someone please look at my numbers for me?

[Crazy Cat]

I just got my blood work back online, I haven't had a chance to talk to my doctor yet. I've been doing LC for about 7 months, and I have to admit I expected better results than this!

BUN-29
BUN/Creatinine ratio-44
Glucose-115

Total Cholesterol-266
HDL-47
LDL (calculated)-168
VLDL-(calculated)-51
LDL/HDL ratio 3.6
Triglyceride-254

C-reactive protein-4.6
__

[phughes]

@Crazy Cat
Your triglycerides are high and HDL is a little low. This typically means that your postprandial blood glucose levels (blood glucose levels within an hour or two of eating) are still high. I would suggest that you check your blood glucose levels exactly 1 hour after your meals and eat in a manner (cut refined carbs sufficiently) to ensure that they are below 140mg/dL (preferably below 130 mg/dL). I did this many years back and my triglycerides fell from about 200 to 60 within 8 weeks.

[phughes]

@CrazyCat I should also add that it appears that your cholesterol levels are high because of an abundance of small LDL. There are two kinds of LDL, small and large. Saturated Fats typically raise large LDL which is largely benign. Refined carbohydrates typically raise small LDL which is dangerous and promotes heart disease. Trigylcerides above 200 typically indicate an abundance of small LDL. Lowering your triglycerides (by further cutting refined carbs) should lower your cholesterol levels as well.

[Crazy Cat]

I'm not sure what more I can cut out on refined carbs. I don't eat pasta, rice, bread, potatoes or anything made with flour. I only drink water. 95% of my diet is meat, eggs, cheese, lc veggies & salad. My net carbs range from about 20-30g a day, with at least half (usually more) of that being from things like lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, etc. The only thing left to cut out is my occasional 2 squares of dark chocolate.
I really don't have any way to test my blood glucose, I don't have a meter.

[phughes]

@Crazy Cat
I would encourage you to get a blood glucose meter and test everything you eat. It really pinpointed the offending food items in my case. There are many things that contain "hidden" or incorrectly labeled carbs that are capable of elevating your blood glucose. Moreover some people can get a greater hyperglycemic response from protein, since protein can be converted to glucose via gluconeogenesis. Blood Glucose meters don't need a prescription and don't cost a lot (< $20 in some cases) and you can even get them at Walmart.

The other thing you can do is to take some vitamins and other supplements that are known to make people more insulin sensitive and thus obtain better control over their blood glucose. This includes substances like Vitamin D and Alpha Lipoic Acid.

[Leo41]

You need to talk to your doctor. If you've been eating low carb for that length of time and still have those high trigs, you probably have a genetic problem that will not be helped by diet alone.

I don't know the lab range, but based on my own tests, your fasting blood glucose would indicate that you're diabetic (or close).

Your lipids are not good, and the C-Reactive Protein is high.

All these are not good news, and you will probably need meds as you're already eating the best possible way and not seeing improvement.

[Crazy Cat]

The doctor told me to start taking Omega3's, because I don't want to do statins, and start using the ketone strips to make sure I'm in ketosis. He told me to cut out the processed meat (like all the salami I was eating) and I also switched to eggbeaters. He's had me cut back on my diuretic to see if that helps with the BUN/creatinine ratio. I'm supposed to get my labs done in 6 weeks (well, 4 weeks now). We're going to address my glucose levels at the next visit, he wanted me to focus on the other issues for now. In the meantime I'm looking into getting strips for the meter my dad has.

[Leo41]

Sounds to me as though you have a really good doctor. I've been taking Omega 3s and using Eggbeaters for years, ironically not for cholesterol but because I control the inflammation from my severe osteoarthritis with diet (egg yolks are inflammatory), and the Omega 3s make a big difference, too.

I'm hypothyroid, and I have regular blood tests every 4 months, and all my numbers are great. When I went on vacation once and ate whole eggs for just a week, it was obvious on my next lipid panel, so I think that Eggbeaters make a difference.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with the glucose meter now, since your doctor is taking a wait and see approach. What I'd do instead is check out the website of Dr. Richard Bernstein of Diabetes Solution. He explains the blood sugar issues very well, and since there's diabetes in my family, I follow his advice concerning carbs most of the time. My endo believes that my WOE has kept me from developing full-blown diabetes because despite my really low carb WOE, my blood sugar numbers are 'high normal.'