I was on the extremely low carb diet when I suddenly needed stents. While on that diet my BP was normal. Unfortunately after years on that diet, I started passing out when getting out of bed. We called an ambulance several times. My glucose level was good, my BP had fallen drastically.
I quit this woe because of passing out one too many times and because I was getting horrible migraines. Once I cut out dairy and then several months later started a low fat plant based diet, the headaches and periods of passing out stopped.
After more than 3 yrs on my present diet I recently passed out again, so no more hopping out of bed for me. On my present diet my BP rose and I now take 50 mgs of losartan and a supplement. For most people this woe lowers BP, but I am an exception. I did not take a med for BP until about 3 yrs ago. I recently lowered my dose from 100 down to 50 mgs, because my BP dropped much too low 89/43. I fainted during this period of time.
My other risk factor for stents was and is diabetes. All of the cardiologists have told me diabetes and high LDL. Cardiologists see many diabetics, but many of the diabetics are uncontrolled.
When low carbing my A1c was 4.6 and the highest level was 5.3 for 11 yrs. I normally took 17 to 23 units of insulin. I had no working beta cells. I weighed about 10lbs more than I do now.
My life has had long periods of times that were extremely stressful. Our son had severe Tourette’s Syndrome and early onset bipolar disorder. We didn’t send him to school because most professionals medical and others did not understand his behavior which was severe. I spent all my efforts, when possible, trying to find experts in these two illnesses. My husband and I were stressed and exhausted for more than a decade. Then I switched to taking care of my parents.
My husband has had cancer 4 times in the last 10 yrs. after I received stents. Stress has done a number on us, but the cardiologists ignore that factor.
Omg, I thought you were male. LOL What does that say about me??? That is hilarious on my part. So much for being a feminist!
You are right, men are the low carb advocates. One man wrote a book about the cholesterol myth during the time I was low carbing. He said that LDL could be ignored. He is very well educated and he quoted many cardiologists. Several of the cardiologists have said that he misquoted him. His book helped make me ignore my cholesterol numbers, I didn’t do more in-depth research about the book until a few yrs ago. From now on I am very careful about believing what I read. These doctors and researchers especially ones who are making money from books and YouTube videos can be very persuasive, and they can be wrong.
As a child I took 40 units of insulin after the age of around 30 the amount has been steadily coming down. I haven’t taken more than 30 units in many years.
I eat very, very few processed foods. I eat out very seldom and try to stick to my woe. I eat 250 to 275 healthy carbs a day, I exercise an hr a day. I normally use 23 total units of insulin daily. I have heart stents but no other complications of diabetes. I have had numerous problems but by keeping a very low A1c they have all reversed. The only neuropathy i have had was caused by a statin.
Both of my parents had normal LDL levels when they both died at 89. Neither took statins. I do remember that when my mother was about my age that her cholesterol levels were not good. I have no idea what enabled her to have a very decent LDL level in her later years. My sister who is 73 is in perfect health. No diabetes or hypothyroidism. She has a decent LDL number and definitely has no heart disease, her BP is good. I am the diabetic, and she is the extremely healthy one. She eats what she wants.
I can only go by my own experiences. This is what has happened to me.
Thanks so much for reading this.
