Comments on: Speaking of Heart Risk… http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/01/speaking-of-heart-risk.html A gold mine of straight talk and encouragement for people living with diabetes Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:28:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Lauren http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/01/speaking-of-heart-risk.html/comment-page-1#comment-247488 Lauren Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:13:50 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=5329#comment-247488 Yes, statins are serious drugs and there's no way in hell I would take them without doing some in-depth research of my own. I am not sure of the link between type 1 diabetes itself and abnormal blood lipids. I have been told about 25 different things by my endocrinologist, my professors, and 2 cardiologists. I would grill my doctor about a statin prescription and demand to see some medical literature and hard evidence on the subject before blindly filling the prescription. It's your life, you'd better know what you're putting into your body, and why. Yes, statins are serious drugs and there’s no way in hell I would take them without doing some in-depth research of my own. I am not sure of the link between type 1 diabetes itself and abnormal blood lipids. I have been told about 25 different things by my endocrinologist, my professors, and 2 cardiologists. I would grill my doctor about a statin prescription and demand to see some medical literature and hard evidence on the subject before blindly filling the prescription. It’s your life, you’d better know what you’re putting into your body, and why.

]]> By: pamela http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/01/speaking-of-heart-risk.html/comment-page-1#comment-247496 pamela Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:54:30 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=5329#comment-247496 Seems to me it'd make sense to pony up for the Haptoglobin (Hp) Genotype test, and if there's a strong indicator present for cv disease, then go for the statins. (Of course the decision also depends on how out of range one's lipid profile is; and how much you've already tried diet & exercise to get better results.) I was on Lipitor for about two years before stopping a few years ago while trying to get pregnant. I didn't get pregnant (sob!) but I also haven't gone back on statins. While on them, my numbers were significantly better, both HDL & LDL -- we were aiming at raising HDL -- and I had no side effects. Now I'm trying to get in range (for my endo that's under 100 for LDL, not the scary below 70 mentioned above) by cutting down on hard cheese & eggs (I don't eat meat). What's that about "higher HDL does not protect us since for some reason our HDL is defective"? hadn't heard that one. Seems to me it’d make sense to pony up for the Haptoglobin (Hp) Genotype test, and if there’s a strong indicator present for cv disease, then go for the statins. (Of course the decision also depends on how out of range one’s lipid profile is; and how much you’ve already tried diet & exercise to get better results.)

I was on Lipitor for about two years before stopping a few years ago while trying to get pregnant. I didn’t get pregnant (sob!) but I also haven’t gone back on statins. While on them, my numbers were significantly better, both HDL & LDL — we were aiming at raising HDL — and I had no side effects. Now I’m trying to get in range (for my endo that’s under 100 for LDL, not the scary below 70 mentioned above) by cutting down on hard cheese & eggs (I don’t eat meat).

What’s that about “higher HDL does not protect us since for some reason our HDL is defective”? hadn’t heard that one.

]]> By: Signs of Gestational Diabetes - Causes of Diabetes Mellitus http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/01/speaking-of-heart-risk.html/comment-page-1#comment-247495 Signs of Gestational Diabetes - Causes of Diabetes Mellitus Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:36:14 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=5329#comment-247495 [...] Speaking of Heart Risk Diabetes and heart risk. My goodness do we hear a lot about that. And for good reason: people with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to develop atherosclerosis (hardening of the blood vessels).  Mail this post [...] [...] Speaking of Heart Risk Diabetes and heart risk. My goodness do we hear a lot about that. And for good reason: people with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to develop atherosclerosis (hardening of the blood vessels).  Mail this post [...]

]]> By: Titos http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/01/speaking-of-heart-risk.html/comment-page-1#comment-247494 Titos Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:39:56 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=5329#comment-247494 The thing with statins causing Alzheimers reminds me of the (irrational) scare that MMR vaccinations cause autism. I´ve seen a couple of studies on statins and diabetes lately with strong outcomes and some doctors are advocating that every diabetic over the age of 25 should be on them. They definetely provide strong cardiovascular protection, which is now the major mortality risk for diabetics. I would suggest that as good BG control becomes more prevalent in the future combined with better treatment methods the relative importance of the classic complications - eyes, kidneys, feet, nerves- will decline. As life expectancy of PWD increases further cardiovascular prevention (and treatment) will become key. Statins therefore (in the absence of negative evidence) will be a key strategic tool to prolong health until a cure is found. The thing with statins causing Alzheimers reminds me of the (irrational) scare that MMR vaccinations cause autism. I´ve seen a couple of studies on statins and diabetes lately with strong outcomes and some doctors are advocating that every diabetic over the age of 25 should be on them. They definetely provide strong cardiovascular protection, which is now the major mortality risk for diabetics. I would suggest that as good BG control becomes more prevalent in the future combined with better treatment methods the relative importance of the classic complications – eyes, kidneys, feet, nerves- will decline. As life expectancy of PWD increases further cardiovascular prevention (and treatment) will become key. Statins therefore (in the absence of negative evidence) will be a key strategic tool to prolong health until a cure is found.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/01/speaking-of-heart-risk.html/comment-page-1#comment-247493 Rachel Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:24:47 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=5329#comment-247493 I have to echo Kathleen here (almost word for word). When most everyone on both sides of the family died of cardiovascular disease (whether they had diabetes or not), you a) don’t need the test to know you are at risk b) toss down any pill that could help prevent it. I have to echo Kathleen here (almost word for word).

When most everyone on both sides of the family died of cardiovascular disease (whether they had diabetes or not), you

a) don’t need the test to know you are at risk
b) toss down any pill that could help prevent it.

]]> By: Kathleen Weaver http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/01/speaking-of-heart-risk.html/comment-page-1#comment-247492 Kathleen Weaver Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:13:12 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=5329#comment-247492 When everyone on your father's side of the family died of cardiovascular complications of diabetes, you a) don't need the test to know you are at risk b) toss down any pill that could help prevent it. When everyone on your father’s side of the family died of cardiovascular complications of diabetes, you

a) don’t need the test to know you are at risk
b) toss down any pill that could help prevent it.

]]> By: Adam http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/01/speaking-of-heart-risk.html/comment-page-1#comment-247491 Adam Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:17:46 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=5329#comment-247491 I strictly follow a low-carbo. high fat, medium protein diet to control my type 1 diabetes. I exercise regularly (well, except during winter) and am in excellent health. My blood sugars average 89 mg/dL so far this month. I strictly follow a low-carbo. high fat, medium protein diet to control my type 1 diabetes. I exercise regularly (well, except during winter) and am in excellent health. My blood sugars average 89 mg/dL so far this month.

]]> By: tmana http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/01/speaking-of-heart-risk.html/comment-page-1#comment-247490 tmana Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:50:54 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=5329#comment-247490 Sorry, Amy, but statins are scary things. I've heard too many stories about them <i>causing</i> Alzheimer's and related conditions. I'm firmly of the belief that for most of us, diet and exercise can be used to manage our cholesterol levels. Not to mention that the new "goals" (over 60 HDL/under 70 LDL) are scarily close to problem levels (under 50 LDL is extremely dangerous, and apparently higher HDL does <i>not</i> protect us, since for some reason our HDL is defective)... Sorry, Amy, but statins are scary things. I’ve heard too many stories about them causing Alzheimer’s and related conditions. I’m firmly of the belief that for most of us, diet and exercise can be used to manage our cholesterol levels. Not to mention that the new “goals” (over 60 HDL/under 70 LDL) are scarily close to problem levels (under 50 LDL is extremely dangerous, and apparently higher HDL does not protect us, since for some reason our HDL is defective)…

]]> By: Speaking of Heart Risk… | Pro Health News http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/01/speaking-of-heart-risk.html/comment-page-1#comment-247489 Speaking of Heart Risk… | Pro Health News Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:25:28 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=5329#comment-247489 [...] more here: Speaking of Heart Risk…  Mail this post Tagged as: Diabetes, diabetes cardiovascular, diabetes heart disease, [...] [...] more here: Speaking of Heart Risk…  Mail this post Tagged as: Diabetes, diabetes cardiovascular, diabetes heart disease, [...]

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