Three months ago I started exercising in earnest and changed my eating plan to a plant-based one. At the same time I discontinued my statin prescription to see if I could eliminate the need with these lifestyle changes. I couldn’t wait to get into the lab and have validation that it worked.
As you can probably guess from the title, that didn’t happen.
A Little History
For new readers, my parents were both type 2 diabetics and two of my siblings had already lost that genetic lottery. I started taking a statin medication in 2011 for high triglycerides; another inherited problem.
Even though my husband and I watched our fat intake, we both ate too much and were overweight. We started dieting at the first of this year and my husband has lost 37 pounds while I’ve lost the 28.8!
Doctor’s Orders
After four tubes of blood were drawn and analyzed it was time to discuss the results with my physician. I was thinking she’d be so happy I’d lost weight, exercised regularly and completely turned around the lab values. She was happy about the first two but the third didn’t happen.
My fasting blood sugar was still elevated and my HbA1C barely budged. Without the statin, my triglycerides had already elevated far above normal. I cried as she told me it was time to go on diabetes medication for my pre-diabetes to avoid long term damage to my cardiovascular system.
There was some good news… My blood pressure was down enough that if it stays consistent I may get off that medication (yes I’m a genetic mess!) and my resting pulse was 66.
What’s Changed for Me
Since that visit I’m back on Lipitor and have started a new prescription for Metformin. I take it with my breakfast and dinner and there are some very unpleasant side effects from this drug until the body adjusts. But that’s a story for another time.
Since eating a plant-based diet didn’t work for me (or not in the way I wanted it too), I no longer am eating 100% plant-based. I’ve added lean poultry and fish back into my diet. I wanted to let you know so it won’t be a surprise when I have recipes or meal plans with these ingredients.
There is major disappointment with the outcome, but I’m also hopeful that losing the rest of my weight might be enough to eliminate more medication. I’ll keep focusing on my five pound weight loss goals and doing what I can.
How do you deal with health setbacks?
Oh my, I am dealing with something similar. My family has a history of heart disease and high cholesterol, and I finally got insurance again after not being covered for five years. I got my blood taken last week, and my cholesterol was, sadly, 327 total. It was over 200 ten years ago, so I know that my follow-up appointment this coming Wednesday is going to be to get put on Zocor or Lipitor. Sigh.
Liz, I was on Zocor generic initially and asked to be switched to Lipitor generic because of side effects. Zocor caused muscle pain and made me very tired.
Even if the results weren’t what you wanted, you are still headed in the right direction. You are establishing healthy habits, evaluating the outcomes, and adjusting accordingly. Just remember that even if getting off all of the medication isn’t possible (or just hasn’t happened yet) the benefits, both seen or unseen, to your body and mind are huge. Keep it up!
Also, LOVED meeting you at Fitbloggin!
Stephanie, now that the initial dissapointment and shock is over, I’m able to look at the positive side. I still have hope that when I get down to my goal weight things will be different on the health (and medication) front!
Sorry to hear that the change in eating didn’t result in you getting off the medication. Did the doctor think that enough time has passed? I know it isn’t easy, but I am still praying that your levels will normalize without the need of the statin soon.
Khaleef, she definitely thought it’d been long enough for those values to adjust. The fasting blood sugar should improve within a couple of weeks. We’ll see what happens when I get to goal weight.
Oh, Kay Lynn, I’ve been there before and it sucks. I remember a few years ago when I had to go on Metformin instead of controlling my diabetes with diet & exercise; I was crushed. I let that perceived “failure” knock me off of the healthy eating and exercise routine I’d been on prior to getting my blood results, and I’ve never regretted anything more. Taking medication is just another tool in your healthy living arsenal and Metformin is at least proven safe & effective. (It’s one of the oldest oral diabetes drugs.) The side effects are nasty for about a week from what I remember and then they go away and the drug just quietly makes your body more sensitive to insulin. Just like walking and making good food choices will.
I’ve had a few nasty surprises of my own lately – 15 teeth needing to be extracted in one go being the latest – and it’s always toughest for the first few days as I process my disappointment and/or fear. I’m terrible about imagining the absolute worst possible outcome for everything, but I’m finally beginning to recognize that and try to be more businesslike about things: have a plan, be pragmatic, do what needs to be done in order to get to the healthy, happy lifestyle I want.
What are you doing this weekend? Can we meet for a semi-soft meal and/or non-caffeinated beverage? Keep your chin up, friend!
Denise, thanks for the support. My doctor changed me to the extended release and it’s been MUCH better.
I read your post about how you felt post-surgery and just wanted to give you a big hug. You’re right, chins up and keep doing what we can to be health.
P.S. I have walks planned each morning (Avon Walk training) but would love to see you. I’ll shoot you an email!
I lost a lot of (35 lbs.) weight about 45 years ago. I still have to take statins to control cholesterol. Last Fall, I had a physical and my doctor told me my stats are similar to a 35 year old! Pretty impressive since I am 66 years old.
Krantcents, thank you for sharing that despite exercise and weight loss don’t always eliminate the need for pharmacologic intervention. You are impressive in many ways including your health turnaround!
Although I had a chance to talk to you personally about this over the weekend (since we’re friends) I did want to add publicly that I, too, dropped meat, eggs, and dairy about 5 months ago on doctor’s orders. It wasn’t hard for me since I was mostly vegetarian anyway (not for health reasons but for animal welfare and environmental reasons). I, too, have family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease though the only one of those that has manifested for me (so far) is cholesterol problems. In the first 3 months of the plant-based diet my cholesterol dropped 58 points. I don’t think any of your readers should be DISCOURAGED by your results and NOT give a plant-based diet a try. It may work for them and they may discover (as I did) the joy of A LOT of vegetables that I had only ever heard about on the Food Network. The other thing that happened for me that did happen for you was weight loss which has other, well documented health benefits. Good job on your weight loss and good luck on the next 5 pounds 🙂
Kevin, thank you for pointing out that my results are just that. I would hope others give the plant-based diet a try because it works for lots of people. I would have loved being a success story on the Forks Over Knives website. But it was not to be. 🙁
I’m so happy that you’ve seen great results and wishing good health for all of us!
Setbacks are tough, but I think you’ve got the right approach, by reevaluating your methods. If 100% plant-based didn’t work for you, then make changes to seek better results. Incorporating animal proteins back in made a big difference for me (when I was vegetarian for 2 years, I became far less toned–my muscle mass seemed to have gone away), and I find that sufficient protein at each meal keeps me full and satisfied for hours. I’ve heard about a lot of success not only in weight loss but also lowering blood pressure, improving triglycerides, and reversing diabetes based on a “Real foods” protocol–vegetables and animal proteins, with nothing processed including breads and grains. Something worth looking into to reclaim your health.
Best of luck in your endeavors!
Meredith, thanks so much for your comment. I’m feeling better now and just dealing with the new reality. I have cut out lots of processed foods except for frozen Weight Watchers meals. No cookies, baked goods, etc. but we still eat a frozen meal for dinner every once in a while because it’s easier.