Anyone else ever been moved to make lifestyle changes due to test results?

[FirstLight]

Recently had routine bloodwork done... no biggie but I'm already trying to improve my quality of life due to arthritis, etc.

So my sister and I had been talking about mom and dad's health and cholestorol before they passed. So I was looking for whether or not my body would start to show my age, lol

Cholesterol high, triglycerides high, glucose very high even after fasting. Nothing to be alarmed about, but still gave me pause. My partner and I discussed it and we both have been making changes over the past few months already to our diet and lifestyle, but not really "trying" to do better, still fast food and such. I quit drinking & smoking in October, still seeing the effects of those years of abuse wearing off. I eat butter like a farm girl and definitely love everything fried lol...and fruits and veggies are scarce in my repetiore...my partner is a cook so she's been MAKING me eat better, but she still teases me that I eat veggies like a 5 yr old....rarely.

Since the tests came back (and dr appt to follow not till april) I have already been shifting. Yes, using less butter...but I just can't stop altogether lol. today instead of bacon and hashbrowns etc for breakfast I had a mini bagel and fruit. smoothies all week. sandwich and salad for lunch. (breakfast & luuch matter cuz it's when my partner is at work and I am alone with my bad habits.)

I caught myself in the kitchen this morning and said, "oh shit, this isn't a DIET, it's a LIFESTYLE shift!"

Hence my question. have any of you guys felt inclined to change behaviors before seeing a dr after test results..?
(for reference I'm 54 female)

[MOMFUDSKI]

1. Yes!

Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 27 years ago. Read a load of books and searched the internet. Have counted carbs ever since. I used to go to a restaurant and see these way-overweight people eating a LOT. Felt sorry for myself. But it has become a way of life now. I just do one meal at a time. I have gotten comments from people asking me if that is all I can eat as they finish their entire plate. I say yes and smile. It will be a daily decision for you. And you can do this!

[FirstLight]

2. good for you!

My partner and I both have Fibromyalgia and other issues, so we have digestive issues sometimes so we eat smaller portions anyway. My partner has lost 75 pounds in the last year just because she was finally able to get back surgery and can walk and move now. I need to lose abt 50. I'[m in PT for my back and injuries, so as I get stronger I hope I will see that too.

It's just funny to me...at 30, this would be a temporary thing. But at 54, it's about changing it up to live better for the last 30 years!

[yellowdogintexas]

3. I will always recommend a trial with Weight Watchers. I lost 65 pounds; my cholesterol

and tryglycerides dropped significantly. I still have trouble with total cholesterol but my HDL is much higher than the LDL. I feel significantly better over all.

Weight Watchers defines itself as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. This is absolutely true. The current plan is based on points, and is designed to be really simple. You do not need special food. You can basically eat anything as long as you account for it.

The plan has something like 300 zero point foods:
all fruits; all vegetables except potatoes/sweet potatoes; fat free plain yogurt; fat free cottage cheese; chicken and turkey breast; all dried beans; eggs. There are a number of low point foods as well. I love this point system; it is really easy to plan your week to accomodate a special event. It is easy to have zero point days for example. There are tons of really good recipes too.

Local workshops have been replaced by online Zoom groups (thanks COVID) but there are many groups, plus 24/7 support chats. Everything you need is online and available on the phone app.

Good luck, regardless of the path you take.

[MOMFUDSKI]

5. If you examine the WW guidelines you will

see it is based on carb intake. So is South Beach and so many more.

[yellowdogintexas]

7. Of course it is. Most successful eating plans have to be. Carbs are our worst problem

Carb amounts in food are used to calculate points. The more carb and fat, the higher the points
So yes, carbs are a big consideration but it is very well balanced. The points are calculated using protein, carbs, fat and fiber. The higher the fiber, the lower the points. The most interesting thing to me is the inclusion of the dried beans in the zero point foods. They do have a lot of protein and fiber though.

I lost my weight in 2005-2006 so I have been through a multitude of changes. I just like the ease of tracking everything with the current system. I know that a grilled chicken salad is zero points without dressing, don't even have to think about it.

[Mr.Bill]

4. Yes, I have. Twenty years ago I quit smoking. That was a no-brainer,

no medical advice needed. I still smoke a little marijuana. About 12 years ago I started having annual wellness visits with my physician, who is an internist. My blood pressure and cholesterol were high, but not dangerously high. I take meds for that and it is under control. I also started eating more fish and poultry and less beef.

On my last visit my triglycerides were a little high. I had stopped drinking sugary sodas ten years ago, but had recently started back on them a little. I'm back on iced tea now and when I have my follow-up visit in July I am confident the triglycerides will be fine.

I'm 70 now, amd I am convinced that if I had continued my lifestyle and not seen a doctor, by now I would probably had a stroke and possibly worse. My vaccines are all up to date now. Prior to a few years ago I had not had an injection of any kind in over 50 years.

So yes, a matter of some changes in lifestyle. But the big change was I found a good doctor, made regular annual visits and followed her suggestions. The one vice I have left is drinking and that is next on my agenda.

[TexLaProgressive]

6. Responding to " Cholesterol high, triglycerides high, glucose very high even after fasting."

It wasn’t before I saw the doctor. I had very high triglycerides (500+), high fasting blood glucose (450), HbA1c of 14.5%. Before seeing the doctor and getting the test I had extreme blurry vision two days in a row. The ophthalmologist recommended glucose being tested because this is a common symptom of diabetes mellitus.

I was lucky, at that time all our health care was through an institution that had a full range of specialists. I had type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Here’s the lifestyle changes I made, a carbohydrate restricted diet, regular, daily exercise and took the oral meds I was prescribed. After a few months the meds had to be stopped because they were causing hypoglycemia.

For the next 10 years diet and exercise were sufficient to keep my BG near normal. A word to the wise, T2DM is a progressive disease. At some point the insulin secreting Beta cells wear out from overwork.

While continuing to restrict carbohydrates and exercise my BG started rising again. That’s when Metformin was added. Later another progression and a one per day insulin. Still later multi dailly injection and a pump. I still eat right and exercise. When I got my BG to near normal years ago, I felt so much better and realized how ill I had been. I never want to feel like that again.

As to your situation, If you are in the very early stages of T2DM and not advanced like me, diet and exercise may work for life.

Are you aware of the damage high blood glucose levels do to the body? Here’s a list:
Damages the capillaries especially the very fine ones in the retina and kidneys. This leads to poor healing especially in the feet and legs, blindness and kidney failure.

Nerves all of them can be damaged. The ones in legs and arms are the most vulnerable. Peripheral neuropathy causes a loss of real sensation while causing pain. In combination with poor circulation this can lead to ulcerated sores that may become gangrenous and amputation.

The large blood vessels are not immune, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of strokes and heart attacks.

Now as to eating butter, I don’t have an issue with cholesterol. My endo has me on Crestor a statin, but it is precautionary. My triglycerides are keep below 100 with a prescription Omega 3 called icosopatent ethyl.

The driving force in T2DM is cellular resistance to accept insulin abnormally. Abnormal because the cells should be accepting insulin so glucose (fuel) can enter.

2 things happen, BG rises and so does insulin. Whenever there is excess glucose in the blood, and the liver and muscles cannot store it, the liver converts glucose into - wait for it- triglycerides. These are lipids (fats) and get stored in fat cells.

Please take this seriously.