What do those fucking numbers mean?

I had my occasional doctor's appointment yesterday. When the appointment was over I went to the fourth floor to have a blood draw done. Last night Dr. Hill called and left me a message with the results of that blood test. My HbA1C was 5.8, blood glucose 101, triglycerides 198, HDL 42 and LDL 133. Well that is all wonderful but what the fuck does all that mean. What the hell is HDL and LDL and why do I care? Using my numbers you get today's health lesson.

Let's start with HbA1C. Glycated hemoglobin or glycosylated hemoglobin is a form of hemoglobin that is measured to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of time. The lab test shows the average level of blood sugar (glucose) over the previous three months. My number was 5.8. The number considered normal is 5.7. You are considered prediabetic at 5.8 to 6.4 and diabetic at levels above 6.5. So far the news is acceptable. Above what is considered ideal but by the slightest of margins.

Blood glucose is the amount of sugar present in the blood. It is the primary source of energy for the body's cells. It is made available for cell absorption by the hormone insulin. My fasting blood glucose level was 101 mg/dl. So translated a bit it was 101 milligrams per deciliter. Fasting blood sugar is considered normal when it is between 70 and 100 mg/dl. You are considered impaired in the range of 101 to 125 mg/dl and diabetic at 126 or above mg/dl fasting. So once again just outside of normal but close.

Triglycerides are synthesized by your body and are received by the body through the food you eat. They transport the dietary fat to your fat cells and high triglycerides suggest an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. My triglyceride level was 198 mg/dl. The literature indicates that ideal is less than 150 mg/dl. Boarderline high is 150 to 199 mg/dl, high is 200 to 499 mg/dl and 500 mg/dl or above is very high. This time I am pushing the limits of what is considered acceptable. How do you lower this number? The following actions are recommended.

Avoid foods containing sugar
Avoid alcoholic beverages
Quit smoking
Avoid high intake of simple carbohydrates
Follow a high fiber diet
Avoid sweets
Avoid heavy meals
Avoid late night eating
Lose weight
Exercise

It looks based on that list that I have a few lifestyle changes to make.

LDL cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein. It is called that because it is less dense than other cholesterol particles. LDL cholesterol is referred to as the "bad cholesterol". This is why. Some LDL circulating through the blood system tends to deposit on the walls of arteries. White blood cells swallow and try to digest the LDL in an attempt to protect the blood vessels. In the process the LDL is converted to the toxic oxidized form. More white blood cells move to the area creating a low grade inflammation of the artery wall. Over time this creates a bump in the artery wall called plaque. The process continues slowly blocking the artery. If a sudden rupture occurs on the surface of the plaque it can cause a heart attack. So what do the numbers mean. My LDL number was 133 mg/dl. An LDL of 100 mg/dl is considered optimal. An LDL of 100 to 129 is considered near optimal. My LDL level falls in the 130 to 159 mg/dl which is boarderline high. Numbers from 160 to 189 mg/dl are high and over 190 is very high. There is clearly some work I need to do here as well.

HDL cholesterol is high density lipoprotein. It is considered the "good" cholesterol. This scavenger cruises through the bloodstream removing bad LDL cholesterol from where it does not belong. High HDL levels reduce the risk for heart disease and low HDL levels increase the risk of heart disease. My HDL number was 42 mg/dl. The numbers here are below 40 mg/dl is bad. Numbers above 60 are considered good. So I fall closer to the bad range but thankfully not in it. The number can be changed through the lifestyle changes noted above.

Finally there is an overall cholesterol number that some feel is helpful. It is calculated by adding together your HDL and LDL numbers along with 20% of your triglyceride number. In my case that number is 214. The charts say the following. Less than 200 mg/dl puts you at low risk for coronary heart disease. 200 to 239 mg/dl is boarderline high. 240 mg/dl is high and puts you at twice the risk for coronary heart disease than someone who is below 200 mg/dl.

So there you have today's health lesson. Don't just know your numbers, know what they mean. Know what you can do to change them and then make a plan if one is needed. I know I need to lose weight and exercise more. Eat less in the evening. Reduce alcohol consumption, now they are just talking crazy. You must draw the line somewhere.