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Jul 14, 2023 · When you eat too much sugar, your liver makes more LDL while lowering the amount of HDL in your body. The extra calories from a sugary diet also leads to more of something called triglycerides, a...
- Overview
- What is cholesterol and glucose metabolism?
- How are cholesterol levels and glucose metabolism-related?
- How do high glucose levels affect cholesterol?
- How can you lower cholesterol and glucose levels?
- Takeaway
If you live with diabetes and have elevated blood glucose levels, you may also have high cholesterol.
But how exactly is glucose metabolism impacted by cholesterol? And does diabetes impact cholesterol levels?
According to the American Heart Association, cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the blood that is crucial for cell building and making vitamins for the body to function.
Cholesterol can come from either of two sources: the liver or food. Most animal products, including poultry, meat, eggs, and dairy products, contain dietary cholesterol. But too much can come with health risks.
Cholesterol levels and glucose metabolism are closely related. Having elevated blood glucose levels (any type of diabetes) poses a risk of higher cholesterol, manifesting as diabetic dyslipidemia.
Diabetic dyslipidemia occurs when someone has diabetes along with elevated triglycerides, low HDL levels, and high LDL levels. Up to 70% of people with type 2 diabetes have diabetic dyslipidemia.
Alternatively, high cholesterol levels put you at increased risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. High triglycerides and low HDL levels are not only a consequence of high blood sugars but are also a cause.
Also, when people already have diabetes and start taking statins for high cholesterol, they often have difficulty with blood sugar management.
Elevated glucose levels — or impaired glucose metabolism — does raise cholesterol levels.
One reason is that people with diabetes tend to have smaller and denser LDL particles than people without diabetes.
Smaller and denser LDL particles allow cholesterol to get into blood vessel walls more easily, plaquing arteries and leading to high cholesterol levels. It compounds the risk for heart disease and stroke because people with diabetes are already at elevated risk of developing these conditions.
Obesity is also tied to cholesterol.
Although type 2 diabetes is not always caused by or associated with obesity, research from 2016 shows that 85% of people with type 2 diabetes have overweight or obesity. These weight levels raise the risk of developing higher cholesterol, and in turn, obesity does increase the likelihood of type 2 diabetes.
Also, the chance of higher cholesterol is higher for people who live with type 1 diabetes.
Increasing physical activity
Exercising, even just 10 to 30 minutes a day, can lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and raise “good” HDL cholesterol. Exercising can also lower blood sugar levels. Studies from 2015 show that increasing HDL cholesterol is statistically significant in helping lower blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, or about 30 minutes a day, 5 days of the week. Even if you can’t exercise for the recommended amount of time per day, maintaining a moderate weight may help prevent high cholesterol levels to an extent and ward off prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. According to the Obesity Action Coalition, shedding just 5% to 10% of your body weight can significantly reduce cholesterol levels.
Changing your eating habits
Several suggestions can help you lower cholesterol levels. •Try avoiding foods with lots of saturated fats. These may include cheese, fatty meats, egg yolks, and full-fat dairy products. For example, try lowering the percentage of milk you drink. The American Heart Association recommends limiting your consumption of saturated fats to less than 5% or 6% of your daily calorie intake. •Be sure to include lots of healthy fats into your meal planning, such as those found in nuts, fish, and extra virgin olive oil. Also include lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, and beans into your meal plans. •Edamame is a popular soybean with vegetarians. The immature soybean contains isoflavones, which can lower cholesterol levels. •Another cholesterol inhibiting nutrient is lycopene, found in tomatoes. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables will also make diabetes management much easier and will lower blood sugars. Exercising and changing eating habits can lead to weight loss. Reducing or preventing obesity lessens your risk for prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.
If you smoke, consider stopping
Smoking cessation lowers cholesterol levels. Smoking is a major risk factor for high cholesterol. It also makes diabetes management much more difficult.
Cholesterol and glucose metabolism impact each other. They also both play roles in diabetes management, and higher glucose readings or cholesterol levels have a negative effect on the other.
If have both high cholesterol and diabetes, it’s crucial to get treatment for both conditions. This will reduce your risk of developing heart disease and other complications as you age.
Aug 28, 2023 · Research shows that it raises your risk for high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and lowers levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. That’s because stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline,...
Sep 3, 2024 · Research has shown that individuals with high blood sugar levels, particularly those with type 2 diabetes, often have abnormal cholesterol levels. This combination significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
- High coffee consumption. Thanks to its caffeine content, caffeine is often associated with rapid spikes in high blood pressure. But coffee can increase your blood cholesterol levels as well.
- Psychological stress. Stress and cholesterol levels are also related. According to a 2017 study, psychological stress can raise the risk of having high LDL and total cholesterol.
- Cigarette smoking. Smoking cigarettes is another possible cause of a spike in cholesterol levels. This is due to nicotine, the main ingredient in tobacco products such as cigarettes.
- Medications. Some medications might have a cholesterol raising effect on the body. This includes prescription drugs such as: antihypertensive drugs. beta-blockers.
Sep 20, 2018 · One study is frequently cited as proving the effects of sugar on cholesterol levels. Researchers found that sugar consumption raised several markers for cardiovascular disease. They...
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Can high cholesterol cause high blood sugar?
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Can diabetes cause high cholesterol?
Jun 15, 2022 · High cholesterol can also contribute to high blood sugar and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. But how exactly is cholesterol connected to blood glucose levels? Read on to find out.
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Connect with Experts to Help with Your Type 1 Diabetes Journey. Learn How to Manage Symptoms, Monitor Blood Sugar, and Prepare for the Future.