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Over the years much has been written about the dangers of high cholesterol leading to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and other health conditions. The role triglycerides play in these conditions has been overlooked. Triglycerides make up about 95% of your body's fat and are the chemical form in which most body fats exist. The fat produced from triglycerides is used for energy production, provides your body's organs with insulation, and is a central component in the structure of cell membranes. Unused triglycerides are transferred to fat cells for storage. When energy is needed, hormones can cause the release of the stored fats. When the body's production of triglycerides gets too high the blood triglyceride levels will also increase. This thickens and sludges the blood, decreasing blood flow. Excess triglycerides increase the risk of stroke, heart attacks, fatty liver, pancreatitis and obesity. Since triglycerides are part of a serum lipid blood test, and lipids are fats circulating in the blood, most people assume high fat diets increase triglycerides. They are surprised to learn sugars , refined grains, and fruit sugars are the biggest culprits causing elevated triglycerides High blood sugar levels lead to high triglycerides levels. Sugars and refined grains stimulate insulin production. Insulin stimulates the liver to produce triglycerides. Triglycerides in the blood are not made from dietary fats but made in the liver from excess sugar which has not been used for energy. Eating more calories than your body can use for energy contributes to higher triglycerides. This chart shows the average blood sugar measurements of a normal healthy adult: Category Fasting Value Eating Value Minimum Maximum 2 hrs after consuming Glucose Normal 70 mg 100 mg Under 140 mg E Continue reading >>
Ask The Doctor: What's The Difference Between Blood Sugar And Hemoglobin A1c?
Ask the doctor Q. In your article on blood sugar control, you kept talking about hemoglobin A1c. I measure my blood sugar all the time, but my meter doesn't have a setting for a percentage reading. Is there a simple connection between blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c? A. I'm sorry we confused you. Blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c are connected, but they are different, too. Your blood sugar meter measures the concentration of glucose in the bloodstream at the instant you prick your finger. The reading is in milligrams of glucose per deciliter (a tenth of a liter) of blood, abbreviated as mg/dL. Blood sugar levels vary throughout the day. In people with diabetes, they can range from below 70 mg/dL to above 200. Continue reading >>
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- A Novel Intervention Including Individualized Nutritional Recommendations Reduces Hemoglobin A1c Level, Medication Use, and Weight in Type 2 Diabetes
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10 Causes Of High Triglycerides In Diabetes
It's not surprising to have high triglyceride levels if you have type 2 diabetes. About 80% of people with diabetes struggle with this problem. Elevated triglyceride levels are also a component of metabolic syndrome, a group of disorders that increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Other symptoms of this syndrome include high blood sugar, high blood pressure, low HDL (good cholesterol), and excess belly fat. Definition Triglycerides are fat molecules that make up most of your body fat and the fat found in food. Along with cholesterol, they are one of the lipids that circulate in your blood. The medical term for having elevated levels of triglycerides is hypertriglyceridemia . In fasting laboratory tests, a normal triglyceride level is below 150 mg/dL. Borderline high is 150 to 199 mg/dL. High is considered 200 to 499 mg/dL. Very high is over 500 mg/dL. High triglyceride levels can increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and nerve damage. There is a link between chronically elevated triglyceride levels and atherosclerosis , as well as insulin resistance. Causes of High Triglycerides There are many causes for high triglyceride levels. The list below includes common causes for people who have type 2 diabetes and related problems: Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: When your diabetes is not under good control, you likely have high levels of both glucose (blood sugar) and insulin in your body. Insulin helps convert glucose into glycogen (the stored form of glucose) and helps to store glycogen in the liver. When the liver becomes too saturated with glycogen, though, glucose is instead used to create fatty acids that are released into the bloodstream. These fatty acids are used to make triglycerides, which build up in fat cells and contribute to Continue reading >>
Cut Sugar To Lower Triglycerides
If you've been told you have high triglycerides - too much fat in your bloodstream - you're not alone. It's estimated that one in four Canadians has an unhealthy triglyceride level, which is linked with heart disease, heart attack, stroke and diabetes. The good news: High triglycerides, in large part, can be corrected though diet, weight loss and physical activity. According to a scientific statement issued this month by the American Heart Association, lifestyle changes can lower blood triglycerides by as much as 50 per cent. The researchers came to this conclusion after analyzing more than 500 international studies from the past 30 years. Triglycerides are a type of fat carried in the blood. When you eat, calories that are not needed right away are converted to triglycerides and stored. When you need energy between meals, hormones prompt fat cells to release triglycerides into the bloodstream. You can have excessive levels of triglycerides in your bloodstream if you regularly eat more calories than you need - especially sugar and fat calories. High triglycerides are thought to contribute to the hardening and thickening of artery walls, and as a result increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies suggest that elevated triglycerides are more strongly tied to heart risk in people with lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and in those with Type 2 diabetes. Obesity, lack of exercise, poor diet and alcohol consumption can increase blood triglycerides. High triglycerides also occur in people with poorly controlled diabetes and kidney disease. Triglycerides are measured as part of a lipid panel, a series of blood tests that measures triglycerides as well as the major forms of cholesterol (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol). You'll be asked to fast f Continue reading >>
Know Your Numbers: Why Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar And Cholesterol Matter | Miami Herald
Along with eating right and exercise, knowing your numbers is a crucial part of managing your heart health correctly. Below, Dr. Theodore Feldman, a cardiologist at West Kendall Baptist Hospital and the medical director of the Healthy Hub at West Kendall, takes us through the ABCs of cardiovascular health. BLOOD PRESSURE Why it’s important to keep track: High blood pressure, or hypertension, negatively impacts the heart in three major ways: It makes the heart work harder, it accelerates the build-up of plaque in the arteries, and it can create imbalances between the supply and demand of oxygen to and from the heart. A leading cause of heart failure, kidney disease and stroke, hypertension is also typically completely asymptomatic, making it a “silent killer,” according to Feldman. Consistently low blood pressure can also indicate a problem, but only if accompanied by symptoms like fatigue, nausea, dizziness or fainting and blurred vision. Never miss a local story. Sign up today for a free 30 day free trial of unlimited digital access. SUBSCRIBE NOW What the numbers mean: Measured in milliliters of mercury (mm Hg) blood pressure readings are rendered as a fraction. The top number, also the higher number, represents systolic blood pressure – the pressure when the heart is contracted. The bottom number represents diastolic blood pressure – the pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxed. Systolic blood pressure usually fluctuates the most. Ranges: Healthy systolic readings are below 120 mm Hg; healthy diastolic readings are below 80 mm Hg. Pre-hypertensive systolic readings are 120 – 139 mm Hg; pre-hypertensive diastolic readings are 80 – 89 mm Hg. Systolic readings of 140 – 159 mm Hg and diastolic readings between 90 – 99 mm Hg represent Stage 1 h Continue reading >>
The Difference Between Triglycerides And Blood Sugar
Video of the Day Triglycerides, also called triacylglycerols, are comprised of a glycerol backbone with three fatty acids attached. Nearly 95 percent of dietary fat comes from triglycerides. They are a highly concentrated form of energy and are important in transferring that energy from food to cells. Like cholesterol, triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood which can be checked to measure risk of developing heart disease. Ideally, triglycerides should measure less than 150 mg/dL in the blood. Carbohydrates are broken down into sugar in the blood. Unless you are glucose intolerant or have been diagnosed with diabetes, you don’t need to regularly monitor your blood sugar. It is important to maintain blood sugar levels however by eating regularly spaced meals throughout the day. Eating too many refined carbohydrates, simple sugars, or drinking too much alcohol can increase blood levels of triglycerides. It is recommended to maintain a healthy weight, exercise, and cut back on simple carbohydrates and alcohol. Eating a diet low in both saturated and trans fats and high in fiber is also beneficial. Continue reading >>
Very High Triglycerides
Its a good idea to keep track of your cholesterol. The same is true for your blood pressure, blood sugar levels and waistline. And while you may be used to hearing about good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol , triglycerides are an important part of the overall picture too. Triglycerides are one of the four numbers you will see on a standard cholesterol blood (panel) test . When triglycerides are very high, it can spell trouble for your heart and lead to other health issues too. Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in your blood. Your liver makes triglycerides. You also get them through many of the foodsyou eat. In fact, after you eat, any extra calories that your body doesnt need right away are converted into triglycerides. These fatty substances are stored in fat cells. They are later released and circulate the bloodstream to be used as energy by cells. But as with LDL cholesterol, too much can be harmful. Most dietary fats are triglycerides. Just as it sounds, having very high triglycerides means that you have too much of this type of fat in your blood. Your doctor may call this condition severe hypertriglyceridemia. It is detected through a simple blood test called a lipid panel or lipid profile. This test measures your: You will likely be asked to get your blood taken after fastingwhen you havent had any food or drink (except water) for eight, and sometimes up to 12 hours. Thats because recent food intake can change your triglyceride level. Triglycerides are usually lowest after fasting and highest after eating. Eating a heavy meal can actually cause a spike in the amount of triglycerides in the blood. Like other types of cholesterol, triglycerides are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood. There are four categories of triglyceride levels ac Continue reading >>
Symptoms Of High Triglycerides
As if having type 2 diabetes was not enough, many people with diabetes also have elevated levels of triglycerides, which increase the risk for heart disease, especially if you have both conditions at the same time. Diabetics have a metabolic condition that affects many bodily symptoms, causing kidney damage, heart disease, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic nerve pain. Having high triglyceride levels appears to increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, there are things you can do to decrease your triglyceride level. By decreasing your cholesterol level, you may be able to decrease your chances of having type 2 diabetes as well. Insulin Resistance, Triglycerides, and Diabetes Most researcher believe that having high triglyceride levels aren’t behind getting diabetes. High triglyceride levels are simply an indication that your body isn’t properly turning the food you eat into energy used for cellular fuel. Under normal circumstances, we make insulin in the pancreas that helps glucose (the main source of cellular fuel) get in the cells, where it is metabolized for cellular energy. Insulin also seems to help the body use triglycerides as a source for cellular energy. A typical cause of high triglyceride levels in the bloodstream is having insulin resistance. This is when the cells of the body don’t recognize insulin and don’t let insulin put glucose into the cells. When this happens, triglyceride levels increase along with the glucose levels. There are blood tests available that can tell if you have insulin resistance or not. When it is determined that you have insulin resistance, your insulin levels may be elevated, indicating the presence of either prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. If you are diabetic and also happen to be overweight or obese, or Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes And Triglycerides
What is a triglyceride, and why do somephysicians refer to it as the “ugly fat”? Most people who read the news or watchtelevision know about cholesterol. There areconstant warnings about high cholesterolas a very important risk factor for heartdisease, and we are continually bombardedwith advertisements for foods and pills andexercise programs that promise to lower ourcholesterol levels. But few people have heard about orunderstand much about triglycerides.Triglycerides are bundles of fats found in theblood stream especially after we eat. Thebody manufactures triglycerides from thecarbohydrates and fatty foods that we eat.Almost 90 percent of the fat content of mostnon-lean meats is triglyceride. What are the function and importance oftriglycerides? Triglycerides account for about 99 percentof the fat stored in our bodies. Thesetriglyceride-laden fats serve as the mostimportant source of long-term energy for thebody, since they are stored in a much denserform than starches or muscle proteins.Formation of fat requires the presence ofinsulin. Triglyceride in fat is converted toenergy between meals and overnight, or anytime when we are fasting or insulin levelsare low. Fat cells have a tremendous storagecapacity, which may contribute to obesity.With extended fasting or absolute insulindeficiency, the liver converts fat breakdownproducts to ketones. High triglyceride levels in the blood tendto coexist with low levels of HDL (“good”)cholesterol, contributing to a condition calleddiabetic dyslipidemia. The third componentof this “dangerous trio” is a tendency forpatients with this condition to have thesmall, dense, undesirable (more atherogenic)type of LDL cholesterol in their blood (eventhough their LDL cholesterol level may benormal). The combination of high tri Continue reading >>
Sugar & Triglycerides
High levels of triglycerides in your blood put you at an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, diabetes and fatty liver disease. In fact, the American Heart Association reports that young people with high triglyceride levels have a four times greater risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke than young people with normal triglyceride levels. What you eat is largely associated with the amount of triglycerides in your blood, and cutting back on sugar is one way to help keep your triglycerides in check. How Sugar Affects Triglycerides Sugar has no nutritional value. All the sweetener does is provide you with extra calories. When you go over your calorie allotment for the day, your body takes these extra calories and converts them into triglycerides, which are stored in your fat tissue for later energy use. However, some of these extra triglycerides end up in your arteries and can cling to your artery walls. This buildup, also referred to as plaque, can harden your artery walls and inhibit blood flow. Eventually, this can lead to serious complications, such as heart attack or stroke. Sugar Recommendations While all individuals should limit sugar intake, it is especially important for those with increased triglyceride levels. Sugar should be limited to no more than 8 percent of your daily calories. If you are on a 2,000-calorie diet, sugar should contribute a maximum of 160 calories to your diet. Because sugar contains 4 calories per gram, this means no more than 40 grams per day. Limit chocolate, hard candies, table sugar, jellies, honey, desserts and sugary cereals. A Note on Beverages According to the American Heart Association, people who consume a large amount of beverages that contain added sugars tend to take in more calories throughout the d Continue reading >>
Blueberry Leaf Reduces Triglycerides And Blood Sugar
Blueberry Leaf Reduces Triglycerides and Blood Sugar Vaccinium myrtillus L. (blueberry) leaf infusions are traditionally used as a folk medicine treatment of diabetes. To further define this therapeutical action, a dried hydroalcoholic extract of the leaf was administered orally to streptozotocin-diabetic rats for 4 days. Plasma glucose levels were consistently found to drop by about 26% at two different stages of diabetes. Unexpectedly, plasma triglyceride (TG) were also decreased by 39% following treatment. Subsequent to the latter observation, possible lipid-lowering properties of the extract were investigated on other models of hyperlipidaemia and ciprofibrate, a well-established hypolipidaemic drug, was used as a reference compound. Both drug reduced TG levels of rats on hyperlipidaemic diet in a dose-dependent fashion. When administered at single doses over the same experimental period, blueberry and ciprofibrate were effective in lowering TG concentrations in ethanol-treated normolipidaemic animals and in genetically hyperlipidaemic Yoshida rats. Unlike ciprofibrate, however, blueberry failed to prevent the rise in plasma TG elicited by fructose and did not affect free fatty acid levels in any of the above experimental conditions. In rats treated with Triton WR-1339, blueberry feeding induced an hypolipidaemic activity one hour after injection but proved to be ineffective at later time points, thus suggesting that its hypolipidaemic action may reflect improved TG-rich lipoprotein catabolism. In addition, ciprofibrate and the extract were tested for antithrombotic activity using a collagen-triggered model of venous thrombosis in diabetic and Yoshida rats. Only ciprofibrate, however, significantly reduced thrombus formation in diabetics, possibly because of its ef Continue reading >>
How Triglycerides Affect Your Risk Of Diabetes
No one wants type 2 diabetes. It’s a condition that affects your whole body and gets progressively worse, possibly leading to loss of vision and feeling (especially in your feet and fingertips), as well as kidney disease and heart disease. Having high triglycerides makes it more likely that you will develop diabetes, though. Luckily, with some effort, you have a good chance of lowering your triglycerides -- which, at the same time, can help you lower your chance of getting diabetes. High triglycerides don't cause diabetes. Instead, their levels indicate that your system for turning food into energy isn't working properly. Normally, your body makes insulin, which “escorts” glucose -- the type of sugar in your blood --inside your cells. There, your body turns glucose into energy. Insulin also allows your body to use triglycerides for energy. A common cause of high triglycerides is excess carbohydrates in your diet. High TG’s signals insulin resistance; that’s when you have excess insulin and blood sugar isn’t responding in normal ways to insulin. This results in higher than normal blood sugar levels. If you have insulin resistance, you’re one step closer to type 2 diabetes. If you also are overweight, eat a lot of sugary and starchy foods, or don’t exercise, your insulin resistance can be worse. You can reverse your tracks by following the exercise and meal plan your doctor recommends to lower your triglycerides and by taking prescribed medicine. Your doctor can check your blood sugar (also called glucose) levels, by taking a sample of your blood after you’ve fasted, which means you haven’t eaten for at least 8 hours. The doctor may also test the level of glucose in your blood with a special blood test called A1c. The result shows the average level of Continue reading >>
What Do High Glucose & Triglyceride Blood Counts Mean?
If you have both elevated blood glucose and triglyceride levels, you may have metabolic syndrome, a group of health problems found to increase the risk of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), heart attack and stroke. According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), published in the May 2015 issue of "JAMA," nearly 35 percent of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome. Three out of five diagnostic criteria need to be present to diagnose this syndrome. In addition to high glucose and triglyceride levels, the other criteria include a large waistline, high blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol -- a heart protective cholesterol found in the blood. Video of the Day Insulin resistance, a condition in which your body fails to use insulin properly, is present in most people with metabolic syndrome. If you have insulin resistance, you may be producing normal or even high levels of insulin, but the impaired action of insulin causes some glucose to remain in the blood and not move into body cells as expected. Insulin resistance often exists well before the diagnosis of prediabetes and T2DM, and leads to high glucose levels when the body isn't able to produce enough insulin to compensate for the hormone's impaired action. While several factors make insulin resistance more likely to occur, being overweight and inactive are major contributors. In addition to the risk of prediabetes and T2DM, prolonged insulin resistance also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood. They are a source of energy that comes from food, and excess is stored as body fat. While it's normal to have some triglycerides in the blood, elevated levels raise the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease. Your triglyceride level Continue reading >>
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How To Reduce Triglyceride And Blood Sugar Levels
You might think at first glance that there’s no relation between glucose, or what is commonly called blood sugar levels, and triglycerides, the most common type of fat in the body. Too much sugar and carbohydrates in the diet, however, could cause not only high glucose levels, but also high triglyceride levels as well. Relationship between sugar and triglycerides The body frequently uses glucose, or sugar, as a combustible. The most efficient way of storing energy, however, is not to store it as sugar, but as fat. That’s why the body transforms excess sugar into fat, and therefore begins to create fat deposits which grow. This is what we recognize as weight gain. This is completely natural and part of an efficient metabolism. When there are excessive amounts of things, however, you begin to put your health at risk. High Glucose and Triglycerides Both glucose and triglycerides, when high, are caused by the same thing: a poorly balanced diet, being sedentary, and other bad habits like consuming alcohol. Studies have also linked this to a certain genetic predisposition. High glucose levels is also known as hyperglycemia, and this could be a risk indicator for suffering from the disease commonly known as diabetes. That’s why you need to take necessary actions. We need to mention that the body transforms excess glucose into fat for storage. The most common way the body stores fats is in the form of triglycerides. If you constantly have high glucose levels, it is quite likely that your triglyceride levels are high as well. High triglycerides are also related to a greater risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks. How can I reduce glucose and triglyceride levels? Your treatment should be focused primarily on your diet, because if you adopt h Continue reading >>
High Blood Fats And Diabetes:
By now, people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes – as well as many in the general population – know that the disease can lead to a host of medical issues, among them eye problems, kidney disease and nerve damage which may lead to amputations. What is perhaps less known is that there is a direct relationship between diabetes and high lipid (fat) levels in the bloodstream. This condition, commonly referred to as lipid disorders, is caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and dietary intake and is an abnormality with both good and bad cholesterol and triglycerides. Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance not readily soluble in water and produced within all cells in the body. Cholesterol is necessary for normal cell and body function, however very high levels of it can lead to plaque buildup in arteries and eventually may cause blockage of blood flow. Cholesterol comes in two major forms: high-density lipoproteins (HDL)—often referred to as the “good cholesterol”—which removes fats and cholesterol from the serum and cells and transfers them back to the liver for reuse or excretion, and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), the “bad cholesterol,” which is the leftover cholesterol after it has provided substances to the cells to create hormones and to strengthen cell membranes (the wall of the cell). The leftover LDL is also reabsorbed by special receptors on the surface of the liver. Triglycerides (TG) are a type of primary fat which provides energy to the appropriate tissues in the body. TG are formed in the liver and are found in the blood. Excess TG are stored in fat cells to use as energy when needed. When the body needs a source of energy, the liver breaks down glucose and signals the fat cells to release fatty acids it has stored as triglycerides Continue reading >>
