Allow me to digress every once in a while.
This is a follow-up to my eating plan to (1) reduce my blood glucose and (2) reduce my cholesterol (particularly my triglycerides and LDL if ever that’s even possible).
Backstory: My blood glucose isn’t really that bad but I hit the prediabetes reading (HbA1c at 5.7) and that was already an alarm bell for me. My father had Type 2 diabetes so I am predisposed, genetically. My cholesterol, well, that’s the saddest story ever because it’s always been high and both my parents had/has high cholesterol all their lives too. I started researching on cholesterol decades ago when my parents were diagosed with high cholesterol and came to the conclusion that it’s one of Big Pharma’s devious strategies to sell statins. The cholesterol readings that the labs give us come from an equation with 4 unknowns and only 2 measurables, so with just basic mathematics, please go figure. In any case, every GP I have seen has told me I’ll be shortening my life unless I take statins, but that’s one drug I have refused to take.
I prefer to do it through diet. Let food be thy medicine and medicine, thy food.
So, I started on a moderate plan in June 2024 and by Sept 2024, my blood tests still had not shown the results I’d wished for, so from Sept onwards, I went on a very strict diet plan. Discipline and will power come so easily to me because that’s my nature, so it’s no big deal for me. Moreover, I am controlled by my mind, not my tongue.
It’s been five months since I started on a strict diet plan of low-carb and low-sugar coupled with intermittent fasting. Actually, it’s almost zero obvious carbs and zero obvious sugar. By “obvious”, it means I don’t take carbs or sugar which can be seen or which are known. I cannot eliminate the natural carbs and sugars in certain fruits and vegetables.
Sugar is the main culprit of so many diseases, so that’s totally out, out, out.
I also go to the gym once a week now and there’s always been ballet twice weekly. I walk in the mornings. But for me, walking is really not enough (as evidenced by my earlier blood test results). Aerobic exercise was enough when I was younger, but it just isn’t enough now at this age. We need muscle building (strength training), hence, the gym.
I got my blood tested on Friday and the results came today. I was literally trembling when I opened the PDF file.
Guess what? My eating and exercise plan worked!!!!
My LDL and triglycerides have come down to readings I’ve never seen before! My Total Chol/HDL ratio has also come down very significantly. My HDL has increased (thanks to the muscle-building exercises)!
My blood sugar is 4.8 and my HbA1c is 5.4!
I would have to credit the reduction of my triglycerides and possibly, even the LDL, to a certain brand of fish oil recommended by my brilliant pharmacist. The earlier brand really did not work for me, so he switched me over to this brand and it works!
Next up is a check-up on my liver which will be soon. My liver readings have always been normal but for some reason, the ultrasound showed that I have moderate fatty liver, according to the GP. I’m seeing a specialist for this purpose. My blood test results shows that I’m still in ketosis, which means I am still burning fat – that’s good! Updates in the next post.
All said, I think Dr Jason Fung has the best dietary advice: Low-carb diet (this means low-sugar too) and intermittent fasting.
Let’s hope that with all this, I will be able to live long enough to see through all my cats! Juno is the youngest.
Disclaimer: This is only a sharing. What works for me may not work for anyone else as my supplements have been tailored specially for me, through consultation with my pharmacist. Kindly consult a healthcare professional if you have similar symptoms.
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