Cholesterol Levels and Type 2 Diabetes
Abnormal levels of fats (lipids) in the blood are twice as common in people with type 2 diabetes as in people who do not have the disease. Obesity, insulin resistance, and high levels of insulin cause several lipid abnormalities.
- Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) blood levels can be normal to high.
- Triglyceride blood levels are usually elevated.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) blood level is usually low.
- Blood levels of lipoprotein a (Lp a), a type of LDL, are also increased in people who have diabetes. Lp a has been shown to be a risk factor for heart disease in people who do not have diabetes. But its relationship to heart disease in people with diabetes is unknown.
The combination of low HDL and high LDL puts people who have diabetes at higher risk for macrovascular disease. These cholesterol abnormalities can improve with good control of blood sugar levels.
Reduce Your Risk of Nerve Pain and Damage From Diabetes
If you have diabetes, chances are good that you already have some form of nerve pain or nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy. "People with diabetes have about a 60% chance of getting neuropathy of any kind," says Dace L. Trence, MD, an endocrinologist and director of the Diabetes Care Center at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. "It's probably an equal risk of getting neuropathy with type 1 and type 2 diabetes." You may have tingling, pain, or numbness in your feet and hands...
Read the Reduce Your Risk of Nerve Pain and Damage From Diabetes article > >
Regular exercise and weight loss can improve your cholesterol levels. Lack of exercise is linked with higher triglycerides and lower HDL cholesterol. Taking medicines called statins can further reduce the level of LDL.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
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