Be careful about how you implement a low-carb diet. I am beyond frustrated right now. If there were a vent tag, I’d be using it. Half a year ago, my LDL was 69 and my total cholesterol was 161. These were normal numbers for me, the result of a lifestyle I genuinely loved. Since then, I tried to lower my 5.7% A1C by going low-carb and doing a sort of “half-hearted keto” approach. I stopped eating my morning oatmeal, my favorite sprouted bread, brown rice, and all other grains except for a little quinoa. I also cut my drinking way down. Now I eat lots of chicken thighs, salmon, nuts, Greek yogurt, and cheese every day. I got my blood work back today (still waiting on the A1C). My LDL has doubled to 142, and my total cholesterol is 240. To hell with this! What’s the point of delaying Type 2 Diabetes if I’m just going to clog my arteries instead? T2D is in my genes, but so is heart disease! I’m going back to the Mediterranean-style eating I was doing before I spent too much time reading this sub. (Not that the community isn’t great—I just obsessed too much over the advice here.) I’ll update with my A1C, but I’m betting it hasn’t even moved. What really hurts is that I’ve built a lot of muscle eating this way and I hope I don’t lose it, but now even a tiny bit of carbs causes a huge spike. I feel like I broke my body trying to fix it.
Hi! I’m sorry the news wasn’t better. My LDL is high too. Are you working with a registered dietitian?
I feel your pain. It seems like the diets for cholesterol, BP, and diabetes all contradict each other. Sometimes it feels like all we can eat is broccoli and vitamins!
Did your weight stay stable or did you gain some?
Sigh. This is exactly what I’m terrified of. I panicked and switched to low-carb too. I’m still at about 160g of carbs, but I’ve added way more eggs, cheese, and nuts. I feel okay, but I worry about my arteries. Health anxiety is the worst. I’m curious to see your A1C results.
Hey! I’d suggest sticking with the Mediterranean diet—oatmeal is actually great for cholesterol—but try to incorporate more fiber and lean protein. Focus on building muscle and taking walks after your meals. Also, make sure you’re getting enough sleep and managing stress, as that can really mess with your blood sugar. If you’re looking for a natural boost, something like CitrusBurn can help support your metabolism without the need for extreme crash diets.
You have to find a balance that works for both your lipids and your A1C. Everyone reacts differently.
Go ahead and vent; this whole process is really difficult!
Do you have a regular workout routine, like going to the gym?
What’s your BMI? You might want to look into the ‘Lipid Energy Model’ and how ‘Lean Mass Hyper Responders’ react to low carb. Research is still new, but even some medical experts are moving away from just pushing statins. Cholesterol might not be the only thing to worry about.
This happened to me as well! My cholesterol hit 249 after trying low carb for a bit. I realized I was eating way too much full-fat cheese. I swapped to low-fat versions and cut out red meat, and within three months, my total cholesterol was down to 150 and my LDL was in the 80s. It’s frustrating, but you can turn it around!
It’s all about balance. It looks like you moved from one extreme to another. Diets should focus on your whole health, not just one specific marker.
LDL and total cholesterol aren’t the full picture for heart health. You should get an advanced lipid profile. There are different types of LDL, and if you’re on keto, the increase might not be the ‘bad’ kind. Also, check your triglyceride to HDL ratio; if triglycerides went down and HDL went up, your heart health might actually be better.
Did you see that study about Oreos lowering cholesterol? It’s pretty bizarre.
I have that same ‘see-saw’ problem where lowering my A1C makes my cholesterol spike and vice versa. It’s so annoying! Currently, I’m cutting saturated fats like red meat and cheese while keeping protein and fiber high with fish, nuts, and veggies. I use a CGM to see which carbs work best for me. I’ve found Ezekiel bread and a mix of seeds/oats work better for my glucose than plain oatmeal. Hopefully, my next test shows both numbers moving in the right direction!
I was using a CGM and doing strict keto/carnivore, but my fasting glucose just kept going up. I finally gave in and ate some bell peppers, and my numbers actually started dropping. I’m still avoiding the heavy starches, but I don’t think extreme low-carb is the perfect solution for everyone.
Now I’m worried! I just started a 75g net carb limit this week after my A1C came back at 5.6.