High triglycerides, means body jonesing for Diabetes?

[Mr Bill]

Yikes, I was just having my first visit with my primary physician since I got sent off for my first sleep study. So, I got blood work done at the local health fair. Really good numbers except... triglycerides were around 290 despite over 12 hours fasting. Blood sugar was fine as usual at 85. Triglycerides in the past have been ~150. So, my doctor has scheduled me for a glucose stress test because he says persistent high triglycerides 'may mean your body wants to become diabetic'! A number of explicative superlatives are coming to mind right now.

Only one other caveat, uric acid too high and its been high the last two years and I am having pain in my hands and feet (but not toes). Dr says this may not be arthritis but gout. I read somewhere that gout is higher in the population of CPAP users than it is in the general population.

[JeffH]

Eating low carb for about 17 months now has mine down to 62. Works like a charm.


JeffH

[jnk]

High triglycerides, means body jonesing for Diabetes?

Sometimes.

One factor of many, as I understand it.

One day, there may be better testing to know what it means for someone. For example:

"Contrary to the prevailing view of bulk triglycerides as an adverse risk factor, we identified specific [triacylglycerols] that are associated with either an increased or decreased risk of diabetes."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3069773/

[Goofproof]

Even better at making Heart Plugs....

[AirBreather]

My triglyceride level was over 500 (too high for some labs to measure) for many years. I also was significantly overweight throughout those years. Selective dietary changes I tried made little difference. Occasional exercise made little difference. One of my doctors said the high level might be a genetic issue. However, several years ago I decided to fix my weight problem through diet and daily exercise. A year later I had lost 70 lbs, by BMI was 25, my triglycerides had dropped to 125, and my cholesterol level, which also had been very high, was below normal. My doctor said I no longer needed the statin drug I had taken for years.

I still exercise 45 minutes daily and by means of that and reasonable food intake I have kept the weight off. I had a blood test a couple weeks ago. My triglyceride level was 130 and my cholesterol levels were all within good ranges without medication. You didn't mention whether you have a weight problem. Even if you do, losing weight might not bring your triglyceride level down the way mine came down, but losing weight sure worked for me.

Several of my family members have diabetes. Despite that and the fact that my triglyceride level remained extremely high for a long time my blood glucose has always been within the normal range. Based on that, it doesn't seem that high triglyceride levels necessarily predict that someone will develop diabetes. Even so, from what I have read about the subject large amounts of triglyceride in the blood can cause significant harm, so if I still had that problem I would try to do something about it.

[NoLegs]

Went to the doctor last year and my triglycerides was 450. My sugar level started creeping up to 110. I was sluggish and sometimes tired feeling but my cpap numbers were real good. The doctor requested I have my testosterone checked with a simple blood test. My testosterone was low so he started me on Adro Gel Pump. This medication is like a lotion (looks and smells like hand sanitizer) you rub on your skin every morning and it is absorbed into the skin within about 5 minutes. Just be careful were you apply this medication, you cannot apply it to your genital area or you can have a risk of testicular cancer. You can apply this to your upper back, upper arms, stomach, or thighs. You can search the internet for this medication.

My triglycerides are 130 to 135 now and my sugar is 78. I had to cut back the medicine dose twice now but my testosterone is at a normal level. I now have more energy.

Hope this helps!

[Mr Bill]

Thank you for the replies. I see that my levels are maybe not to panic over. I will keep you posted when I get the results of the glucose stress test. I go in for that this next Tuesday. I used to be a fit but heavy 230 pounds. I have put on 30 pounds since this apnea first started getting bad. I really need to weigh 200 or less. So, I am 60 pounds over weight.

[Breathe Jimbo]

As long as your fasting glucose is 85, don't worry about diabetes. The real problem with your high triglycerides is plaque buildup in your arteries and heart disease. Diet and exercise.

[purple]

I am not a doc, I have never heard high triglycerides is related to pre-diabetes. Shows you how little I know.

High triglycerides: I suspect first doc will try to sell you on a diet and exercise approach. Some of the general public hate the idea of taking medicine, others would rather pay for prescription drugs than diet or exercise.

One the true miracle drugs proven up over the last fifteen years (been around a bit longer) are cholesterol lowering drugs. Must be taken near the maximum dose and can have an effect as spectacular in effect as the first use of antibiotics, although cholesterol lowering drugs take a longer time, and one can never quit taking them.

Be of good cheer. Do not get too discouraged and keep seeing doc so he goes through whatever guidelines he must go through to get your high triglycerides under control.

As far as the blood sugar you mentioned, I already take diabetes oral meds and can have a dawning of over 140, and no, I am not eating desserts and such fun things. So your situation is a lot better than some of ours.

[JointPain]

The whole reason I'm back on my CPAP therapy is that my triglycerides and cholesterol were way too high (forget the numbers) and my fasting blood sugar was borderline diabetic, even with a minimum of 7 hours energetic exercise every week.

It was a great wake up call. Hopefully I get those numbers back down again and can get off the drugs.

[Lizistired]

Google "Gary Taubes". Watch his presentations on youtube. Decide for yourself.

[Breathe Jimbo]

...although cholesterol lowering drugs take a longer time, and one can never quit taking them.

I had to stop taking my statin med after years because of muscle damage. Through diet and exercise, I was able to lower my cholesterol to the point that I no longer need any cholesterol med, so the claim that we can never stop taking them is false.

[purple]

Congratulations Breathe Jimbo on getting off the drugs. I was told that very few people do, I should not expect to, but I still should diet and exercise if I want quality of life.

[Breathe Jimbo]

The muscle damage was worrisome. My doc had me try niacin after I went off the statin, but the niacin raised my blood sugar to the pre-diabetic range. The combination of the muscle damage and pre-diabetic blood sugar was a wake-up call, which led me to make "lifestyle" changes that I had not had the drive to make otherwise. It takes a real kick in the pants for some people, like me, to make the necessary changes. Even now, I do not exercise as regularly as I should.

[kteague]

"High triglycerides, means body jonesing for Diabetes?"

As a disclaimer, in no way am I laughing at your medical matters. But I had to chuckle at your terminology. I expected you to look about my age. Been a while since I heard that one.

Kathy