cholesterol numbers

The human liver naturally produces cholesterol to help in cell and hormone production. However, overactive cholesterol production and the addition of consuming high cholesterol foods are partners for disaster. Unable to absorb the onslaught of vessel clogging fatty deposits, an individual is susceptible to life threatening strokes and heart attacks. Even with changes in diet, the body often needs help to eliminate the "bad" cholesterol.

Changes in diet are one of the first lines of defense against high cholesterol. Too many people eat a high fat diet, short on fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Cakes, cookies, white breads, and ice cream are four common offenders. However, fast food is also becoming increasingly popular in today's societies. Fried foods are recipes for increasing already dangerous levels of cholesterol.

With education, individual
Healthy Body = Functional Body. Hollywood Look Side Effect: Healthy Function

s are learning to eat lean meats, cooking with low fat oils like canola, and snacking on fruits and vegetables rather than baked goods and high fat dairy foods.

However, when changes in diet are not sufficient, high cholesterol medicine is needed to bring the numbers down to a safe level.

Doctors may prescribe medication to combat high levels of cholesterol. Statin drugs are common high cholesterol medicines, recommended to block the liver's ability to naturally create cholesterol. As a result, the liver will begin removing the artery-clogging component in the blood. Also, the body will have a greater capability of absorbing the remaining cholesterol, before fatty deposits can form to block the blood flow through the vessels.

Another drug used to control cholesterol is bile acid binding drugs. The liver needs cholesterol to make bile. Bound by the medicine, the liver will naturally require more cholesterol to manufacture the necessary bile. Still other drugs are designed to prevent the body from absorbing cholesterol. Instead, the cholesterol is laid waste. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a combination of Statin drugs and absorption preventing medicines. Although testing may be required to monitor cholesterol levels and liver function, high cholesterol medicine may prevent a worse, and often deadly, fate.

In summary, high cholesterol is not a health issue to be ignored. The condition is a major cause of strokes and heart attacks. Not adhering to a heart-healthy diet and taking the recommended medication is tantamount to playing Russian roulette with life. Do not take a blase attitude toward a silent killer. As with any other potential health problems, monitoring high cholesterol can be a lifesaver.

Erol Orderland

Blood Glucose Monitor testing for Diabetes - Test 2 Same test as before, time is now 12.40 am bedtime. So, 6 hours 40 minutes between tests. I had a small pizza and a mug of Milk about 1 hour and 40 minutes ago for a late dinner. I am feeling a bit sleepy now (normal at this time) though not as sleepy as I am usually when my head drops on the laptop, Lol, anyway the pancreas should release insulin to take up the Glucose from the food at this point and move it into cells, so worth a test to compare with earlier before my meal. My first earlier test at 6.03 pm was 3.9 mmol / L and normal. The test now at 12.40 am after midnight was 6.4 mmol / L and that is above the average level. Below is what I got from a Blood Sugar chart: Blood Sugar Chart You have indicated that your Random Blood Glucose Level is 6.4 mmol / L Your fasting level is above normal and this is sometimes seen in pre-diabetes. Cut down your weight, undertake exercises and repeat the test after 3 months. What would it have been had I been very tired like I normally am?.

For every diabetic having knowledge of your own glucose (sugar) levels can be vitally important in controlling your diabetes. The current treatments in diabetes, whether medicines or diet, focus on trying to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.

To gain knowledge of your body's glucose levels there are 2 main methods, testing for urine glucose and testing for blood glucose. Which method you use depends a lot on why you are testing and what your doctor has recommended you use.

Blood glucose meters

Testing blood glucose levels has become very simple and very accessible thanks to a whole range of blood glucose meters on the market. Checking glucose in this way is the most accurate method. This is especially important for patients with Type 1 Diabetes (Insulin dependent) and some patients with Type 2 Diabetes requiring insulin. This is because some of these patients can make adjustments to their insulin dose depending on their blood glucose test results. Also patients with diabetes may experience very low blood glucose levels called hypoglycaemia or very high blood glucose levels called hyperglycaemia. Often there are signs and symptoms of both. Using a blood glucose meter to provide an exact reading can help reassure or confirm that action must be taken.

How to use a blood glucose monitor

The 2 main meters on the market at present are Accu-chek Aviva and One Touch Ultra. Both meters use the same basic principle. A blood sample is taken usually from the finger using a finger pricking device. The sample is placed on a specially coated test strip which is then inserted into the blood glucose meter. Within a minute the meter will give you a result. The main drawback of this method is that it does require pricking your finger each time to take a blood sample. This, for some, can be a nuisance. However, with recent advances in meter technology the amount of blood required for Accu-chek Aviva and One Touch Ultra is minimal. This in turn means less pain when pricking the finger.

Urine testing

Urine glucose testing has the advantage of being painless but the downside of not being as accurate as blood glucose testing.

For some, urine testing is a more than adequate method to test glucose especially for diabetics who do not need exact blood glucose levels. Glucose only appears in the urine (for most people) when glucose levels in the blood reach above 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dl). At this point the kidney can no longer reabsorb all the glucose being filtered and glucose appears in the urine. If your blood glucose levels are below 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) then urine test strips will not provide a result. Thus always use a blood glucose meter when testing for low blood glucose levels (hypoglycaemia) as it will give you an exact reading regardless of what your blood glucose is.

How to use urine testing strips

The main 2 makes of urine glucose test strips are Clinistix and Diastix. Visit http://www.glucosemeters4u.com/diastix.htm to learn more about how to use the urine test strips.

Interpreting your results

How you interpret your results very much depends on the goals your doctor has set out for you and what you are testing for. A key point to remember is that blood glucose levels will be affected by food and diabetic medication.

John Ngijseh