[Tealeaf]

I've been worried. I had no health insurance, so hadn't been to the doctor's in a couple of years. I'm a very big girl, and lately I've been feeling thirsty all the time, one of the classic symptoms of diabetes. A disease my father has. I was worried.

A couple of months ago, I finally got hired on at my temp job at the factory. My health benefits just kicked in, and I went straight to the doctor's He said I looked healthy enough, but would have to get results back from the blood work to see how my stats were.

Glucose 93. Anything under 100 is considered normal. I'm not even pre-diabetic! Yay! I was so worried that I might have started my new way of life too late! I'd like to lower this a bit if I could, but I'm hoping my new diet and exercise patterns will help with that. Meanwhile: /happy Snoopy dance.

I also wondered about my cholesterol levels. Like I said, I'm big.

Cholesterol 128. Anything under 200 is considered good. This is very, very low.

HDL "Good Cholesterol" 38. Anything above 40 is considered normal. Mine is just a tad low here.

LDL "Bad Cholesterol" 66. Anything below 130 is considered good. Again, very low here.

The doctor said to not change anything in my diet. He's not worried about the low value of the HDL because my whole is cholesterol panel is so low, this simply doesn't concern him.

I was a bit stunned. I sorta expected him to tell me that my cholesterol values were just slightly less than a slab of bacon. And how often does a doctor look at someone as fat as me and not say something along the lines of "You need to start eating healthier"?

Ok, I know this might not be interesting to anyone but me. But it's such a big weight of my mind, I just wanted to share!

[starting_over]

Wow tealeaf - that is great!!! I know the fear of going to the doctor - and him/her telling you something that you don't want to hear...but almost expect to hear.

When I got hired at my job a year ago - I finally had health insurance after not having any for about 4 years. I also headed right to the doctor for a full check up for my thyroid, diabetes (since my father has type II) and cholestoral ...etc.

Everything was normal except that my cholesterol was slightly elevated. But after reading your post - I realized that my doctor never read me the numbers. Now I wish I knew what my numbers were.

I am currently thinking about finding a new doctor and getting another work-up and to discuss me losing weight.

I'm sure with a healthy diet, and plenty of exercise, I can get my cholesterol normal again.

So congrats on the clean bill of health!!!

- Kari

[maggie2005]

I'll bet it's a relief for you to know that the levels are good. Congrats....

[Halieous]

Good for you Tealeaf!!

Just because you may be bigger doesn't mean you are choosing poor quality foods, maybe just quantity.

I am definitely in a similar position, I rarely eat red meat, I eat tons of chicken, and tend to stay away from greasy foods.

But I do snack a lot, and that's what has led to my weight gain.

It's always great news to hear you're healthy!!!

[Knitting_a_Conundrum]

Yaaaah for you! Mine has been at 101 for five years...no change over that time, but diabetes runs strong in my family, and I've been running from it for 8 years when I came to realize how much in risk I was.

I am glad for you. Keep an eye on it, and do the right thing! You'll be glad you didi!

[Tealeaf]

Thanks for the replies. I was pretty relieved by them. I'm taking it as a sign that I should keep doing what I have been doing these past four months!

[DownNout198]

Good for you Tealeaf! . . Keep up the great work!

[Mel]

Good for you! What a relief

Mel

[paperclippy]

That's great! I had my cholesterol done for the first time ever recently, and I was relieved that it came out fine too. I wonder what the numbers would have been if I had had the test done BEFORE I started my lifestyle change though!

[dona]

I'm sure that was a relief!!