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Will Low-Carb Diet Help Blood Sugar?

Q. I’m confused about the connection between diet, statins (Crestor) and blood sugar levels. I’ve taken Crestor for three years, after several years of trying unsuccessfully to lower my cholesterol levels with a very low fat diet.
On Crestor the cholesterol came down quickly, but now I’m getting “prediabetic” readings (around 110) on my fasting blood glucose.
My doctor has suggested I go on a low-carb diet, which is the opposite of what I’ve been trying to do for so long. Is it really OK to eat meat, cheese and eggs while I’m on Crestor? I don’t think I can avoid fat and carbs at the same time.

A. Crestor and Lipitor (and other statins) may raise blood sugar (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, March 23, 2010). A low-carb diet has been shown to improve blood fats as well as blood sugar (Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, March, 2010).
Another reader reported this experience: “Twenty years of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet did not work. My cholesterol was as high as 330 and my triglycerides were 800.
“When I got fed up and started eating eggs, my cholesterol went down. The body needs cholesterol and will make it if you don’t eat it.”

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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