DIABETES TYPE 2 AND YOU

WHAT'S YOUR HDL? HOW CAN YOU INCREASE IT?

You probably know your total cholesterol and possibly your bad or LDL cholesterol but do you know what your HDL cholesterol is? You should. Most treatment is aimed at lowering LDL cholesterol also calle the termite cholesterol because it burrows into the walls of the blood vessels and causes plaque build up. HDL is sometimes called the vacuum cleaner of your arteries. Ideal HDL should be greater than 50 for women and greater than 40 for me.

Raising HDL may be more important than lowering LDL cholesterol says Daniel Rader, director of preventative cardiology at the University or Pennsylvanial School of Medicine. Less than 5% of people know their HDL and ignorance can be costly. A soon-to-be-available treatment with injectable HDL cholesterol can decrease plaque in the artiers by 4% in three weeks. Until the new HDL is available here are a few ways to increase your HDL. Quitting smoking increases HDL 11%, losing weight helps. Replace margarine or buttter with olive oil or Benecol. Aerobic exercise increase HDL 13%. Alcohol raised HDL but doctors urge moderation. Statin medications raise HDL 5-6%. Fibrates like Tricor or Lopid can raise HDL by 10-20% but niacin, a B vitamin, can increase HDL by 15-30%. As always when something works well as niacin then there are side effects to contend with. The side effects are flushing, itching and tingling skin. Niaspan the presciption form causes less flushing and itching but is more expensive. Take it at night then you can sleep through the side effects and avoid acid foods prior to taking the niacin since they increase flushing. Acid foods include, coffee, soda pop, spicy foods, and orange juice. Nicacinamide does not work for HDL. Avoid the use of sustained, over the counter release niacin as it is hard on the liver. Niaspan is an extended relase form that does not cause liver problems associated with sustained release products. The last decade has been the decade of the LDL cholesterol. The next decade may well be the big 10 of HDL cholesterol.

The diabetes support group meets the second Monday of each month at 7 pm in our office. Everyone is welcome. There is no charge.

Timothy J. Gray, D.O.
Book-Of-The-Month-Club Author
Board Certified in Family Practice
Mountain View Medical Center
1909 Mountain View Lane Suite
Forest Grove, Oregon
503-359-4773