Yesterday's Blood Work Results

Here's what the Mayo Clinic website says about high triglycerides:


[h=3]Why do high triglycerides matter?[/h]
High triglycerides may contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls (arteriosclerosis) — which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease. Extremely high triglycerides can also cause acute inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
High triglycerides are often a sign of other conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol levels.
High triglycerides can also be a sign of:

  • Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
  • Metabolic syndrome — a condition when high blood pressure, obesity and high blood sugar occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease
  • Low levels of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism)
  • Certain rare genetic conditions that affect how your body converts fat to energy
Sometimes high triglycerides are a side effect of taking certain medications, such as:

  • Diuretics
  • Estrogen and progestin
  • Retinoids
  • Steroids
  • Beta blockers
  • Some immunosuppressants
  • Some HIV medications
[h=3]What's the best way to lower triglycerides?[/h]
Healthy lifestyle choices are key:

  • Exercise regularly. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most or all days of the week. Regular exercise can lower triglycerides and boost "good" cholesterol. Try to incorporate more physical activity into your daily tasks — for example, climb the stairs at work or take a walk during breaks.
  • Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and foods made with white flour or fructose, can increase triglycerides.
  • Lose weight. If you have mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia, focus on cutting calories. Extra calories are converted to triglycerides and stored as fat. Reducing your calories will reduce triglycerides.
  • Choose healthier fats. Trade saturated fat found in meats for healthier fat found in plants, such as olive and canola oils. Instead of red meat, try fish high in omega-3 fatty acids — such as mackerel or salmon. Avoid trans fats or foods with hydrogenated oils or fats.
  • Limit how much alcohol you drink. Alcohol is high in calories and sugar and has a particularly potent effect on triglycerides. If you have severe hypertriglyceridemia, avoid drinking any alcohol.
 
Deb, your glucose is high, too. You really should take serious control of your diet, or you might have to be making very drastic changes before long. You simply cannot live totally on carbs and expect to remain healthy. Jasmine is right. you need to add more leafy greens and other vegetables, and healthy proteins. It isn't hard to do; just cook and eat REAL, healthy food -- not stuff out of a box.
 

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