Bad lab results

(Jeff) #1

Hey Folks this is my first post I’ve been reading for awhile.
I’ve been doing a keto diet since jan 2018 and just got my lab results.
I’ve lost 58lbs starting at 277 219 today but my labs have gone from bad to worse.
the only result better was A1C from 7.1 to 6.4 trig. went from 50 to 150 and HDL of 45 to 40
and naturally LDL went from 130 to 344. I’ve been doing OMAD for three weeks prior to the blood work. stopped taking crestor 40mg 5 months ago but still on metformin 1000 x2
any sugestions

(Julie Salinas) #2

Sorry to hear that! I just posted this on another thread.

I had my blood drawn twice this year. Once at the beginning of the year for work, and then one six months later because my doc was concerned with my cholesterol numbers. I did a lot of research in between because I’ve heard numbers rise in the beginning of keto but fall back down. I began keto in Dec of last year. So Megan from IDM mentioned that her best numbers were when she ate normal keto 2x a day with no more than 13 hours between meals for a week before her test. She did not fast at all - her worst numbers were when she fasted the week before. So I did the same for my June test. I had the same results. My HDL went from 42 in January to 81 in June. My Trigs went from 130 in January to 56 in June. Yes the LDL & Total Chol don’t look good but as we’ve heard, those numbers don’t really mean much any more. My whole point here - if your numbers come back and you do get that call from your doctor about your cholesterol, and you are newish to Keto, wait another 6 months to test again and try Megan’s suggestion about how often to eat. It definitely worked for me.

So maybe see if you can schedule another blood test in a month, then eat 2x a day instead of OMAD. Just a week before your test. Maybe that will help your numbers.

(shane ) #3

Did your Dr. advise you to stop taking your Crestor?

If not, why did you stop taking it?

It is not surprising that your LDL went way up. You stopped taking your statin. It would be hard to give advice comparing pre keto diet with statin usage and now post keto diet minus statin usage.

I would start by going back on your statin.

(Edith) #4

Read “The Cholesterol Code” by David Feldman. I haven’t read it myself but he talks about hacking cholesterol blood tests. People who fast before the blood test have higher cholesterol and triglycerides than people who eat fat leading up to the test.

That fact that you eat OMAD may have something to do with it. I can’t say any more since I haven’t read the book.

(Bacon for the Win) #5

I, on the other hand, wouldn’t take a statin if you paid me a million bucks. Do some reading about cholesterol Dave Feldman and make your own decision. Don’t take medical advice from complete strangers on the interwebs.

(Jeff) #6

Thanks folks for the kind help. It may well be the fasting My doc wants me back on crestor 40 and change my diet even tho I I’ve lost the weight still have to work at it.

(Mike W.) #7

You also don’t want to be actively losing weight before a blood draw. That gets the trigs mobilized.

(Jeff) #8

My weight has been coming down pretty steady that maybe part of it. As for the statins I’m done with those the research I’ve done on them shows they are not good for you.

(Wendy) #9

You can always look for a new doctor. Have you watched any of Dr Ken Barry’s YouTubes?
There are doctors that understand keto and chloresterol better than others.

(Jeff) #10

Yes I have watched Dr. Berry’s youtube channel, I’m in the process of finding a new doc.

(Ethan) #11

A few things in there are interesting to me:

A1C didn’t really drop much–only barely out of the diabetic range

After 6+ months–and with that great a level of weight loss–I would have expected a larger drop in glucose. It doesn’t mean a ton yet, but it’s something that does stand out to me for further investigation.

You did OMAD before blood work.

How many hours were you fasted prior to the blood work?

What are your macros? Have you been testing glucose and ketones to see whether certain foods may be triggering negative or positive results?

(Diane) #12

I would definitely check out Dave Feldman’s cholesterol hacking protocol. He’s shown that cholesterol levels are very responsive to what you eat in the 3 days prior to a cholesterol test. If one eats a lot of fat in those 3 days, cholesterol levels go down.

You might also ask for a more detailed cholesterol test when you are next tested- an NMR lipid panel in the US. It will give you the particle sizes for your LDL, which gives you more information than just the normal lipid panel (since not all LDL particles are created equal).

The other thing I’ve heard is that your cholesterol numbers might go up while actively losing weight and then stabilize more after your reach your goal (just what I’ve read here on the forum, no personal experience of this).

Good luck!

(Jeff) #13

I was a little shocked with the A1C. I test ketones and glucose every day and sugar was 100 and ketones were .6 the morning of blood work. I had been fasted for 13 hours before the test.
I was doing OMAD for 3 weeks before the test.
Macros carbs 20 grams or less protein around 7 oz. a day and the rest fat.

(shane ) #14

I have done plenty of research on Dave Feldman. And I completely agree with the sentiment don’t take medical advice from strangers on the internet.

Best advice given in this thread.

(Jeff) #15

I’ve ask for a NMR panel twice the lab here can’t do the test for some reason I will check out Dave Feldman thanks

(Diane) #16

Yeah, only certain labs have the equipment and training to do the NMR panel. I would think a cardiologist’s office would be able to tell you what lab could run the test (if you get very motivated to pursue that avenue).