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I mentioned in my last post that I had received the results of my latest blood test.  If you’ve read Time to Get Serious, Part 1, you’ll know that back in the summer a routine blood test revealed that my triglycerides, cholesterol and blood glucose were extremely out of whack.  That’s indicative of metabolic syndrome and not a good thing.

My doctor decided to raise my Lipitor from 10mg/day to 20mg and added another medication for my high triglycerides.  My fasting blood sugar was in the low 150’s and, since my blood glucose results had been in the pre-diabetic or impaired range for a couple of years, this was a concern to her.

These results forced me to re-evaluate my diet and exercise and I’ve adhered really well to the revisions I made to both.  I’ve had a couple of slip ups.  Halloween candy for one.  One week where I didn’t meet my exercise goals for another.  Overall, however, I’m pleased with my progress and my ability to stick with the program.

Those efforts have paid off as the results of my October blood test demonstrate.  There was a wholesale improvement across the board.  My cholesterol and triglycerides are now within the normal range even though I never took that additional medication for the triglycerides that the doctor prescribed.  My blood glucose is much better although it’s still registering slightly into the impaired range.

I can’t explain the drop in my HDL especially since I hadn’t been exercising before the July blood draw and I had prior to the October blood draw.  Exercise typically increases HDL levels which is good.  Higher HDL levels are beneficial because HDL transports excess cholesterol out of the bloodstream and into the liver for disposal.

We didn’t test for A1c so I have no idea how much that may have improved.  I suspect it did, but I obviously can’t prove it.  Next time I’ll make sure we get that data, also.

There were only two changes I made in the time between the blood tests.  One was increasing my dosage of Lipitor.  I won’t discount that that played some part in the improvement of my cholesterol levels, but it would have had no effect on my blood sugar.

The other change was dietary.  Namely,

1. No junk.
2. Minimize packaged and processed food.
3. Drastically lower carbs; get most carb calories from vegetables and low glycemic fruits.
4. Increase lean protein and fat.
5. Use targeted fasts to decrease overall caloric load and improve insulin sensitivity.

There is no doubt in my mind that altering my diet had a great deal to do with my improved results.  I’ve exercised in the past with no such improvements.  I’ve been taking the same supplements for years with no impact on cholesterol or blood sugar.

My plan is to maintain the dietary guidelines at least through the next blood test and then consider reducing my Lipitor back to the 10mg/day level.  I need to keep working to reduce my blood glucose into the normal range.  Specifically what additional steps I’ll take to do that, I’m not sure yet.  At least I’ve proven to myself that what I do CAN make a difference and that’s success I can build on.

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