Diabetes and cholesterol
Increased cholesterol in the body is a very common condition in diabetics (more than 70% of type 2 diabetics have such an increase). Cholesterol is an important factor in the synthesis of living cell membranes. And plays an important role in the formation of many basic substances in the body, including hormones, testosterone, estrogen and progesterone, in addition to being essential in the composition of yellow matter, which is made in the liver and stored in the gall bladder, in addition to other functions carried out within the body. But increased cholesterol or any disorder or malfunction in the manufacture within the body leads to serious problems and serious affect on human health and life. Cholesterol disorder interferes with many diseases that are directly related to diabetes and high blood pressure. The accumulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plus triglycerides in the arteries, especially the coronary artery, leads to fatal diseases such as arteriosclerosis and myocardial infarction.
Therefore, I have mentioned something about cholesterol and its effects and its close association with the former, diabetes and high blood pressure, because it is one of the reasons that helps in the occurrence of complications, in addition to the methods of treatment without drugs suitable for treatment of the effects of bad cholesterol.
Cholesterol is an alcoholic steroid substance that has the advantages of fat, and therefore has been associated with the disease of atherosclerosis, which feeds the heart. There are several types of cholesterol, but what matters to us are two main types of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is called bad cholesterol "sticks to the inner layer of arteries that feed the heart," and high-density cholesterol (HDL), which is called good cholesterol, "prevents the accumulation of bad cholesterol On the walls of the arteries of the heart. "
The ratio of high density cholesterol to total cholesterol is the determining factor in determining the risk of total cholesterol in the body to human health. If HDL is equal to 0.3 percent of total cholesterol or more (about one-third of total cholesterol), total cholesterol is not important in terms of health because good cholesterol is enough to prevent bad cholesterol from sticking to the arteries of the heart. The normal HDL cholesterol is 45 mg / cm3 in males, whereas in females it is 60 mg / cm3, which explains the scarcity of atherosclerosis in females compared with males. This is because estrogen in Females in larger quantities of males, according to doctors, is the cause of high cholesterol in the body of women, indicating that menopause is the point of the disappearance of protection for females with regard to the possibility of exposure to atherosclerosis, and is known that menopause is the point where the beginning of the shortage And the disappearance of estrogen secretion in females. Good cholesterol in the body should be at least 25 mg / cm3 in males and at least 45 mg / cm3 in females.
Prevention and treatment of high cholesterol
Follow balanced health nutrition with reduced animal fats (saturated fats) as well as coconut oil and palm oil (saturated oils).
Weight loss either through sport or diet or both, and better combine the two.
Focus on eating complex carbohydrates as well as foods rich in fiber and soluble in water such as beans, vegetables and fruits.
Continuous and appropriate sport.
Control in the psychological pressures and problems of life.
Drug therapy
There are several types of drugs that are used to treat high cholesterol level and are called cholesterol-lowering medications or lipid-regulating drugs, which are as follows:
Statins Statins:
Such as atorvastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin.
Used as a first-line treatment for some types of high cholesterol, this group inhibits an enzyme that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body called HMG CoA reductase, thus lowering the level of cholesterol by reducing the speed of cholesterol production and increase the ability of the liver to get rid of harmful cholesterol in the blood. Usually taken in the evening with dinner or at sleep to take advantage of the fact that the body produces higher amounts of cholesterol at night. This group is generally safe and tolerated by most patients, and dangerous side effects are rare. Side effects of this group include muscle weakness. When this happens, consult your doctor to replace the medicine or reduce the dose. This group is the best in the treatment of cases of high cholesterol. This group is suitable for the treatment of diabetes patients with high blood pressure, but be careful of low blood pressure when standing.
Fibrates:
Such as bezafibrate, finofibrate, and gemfibrozil gemfibrozyl. This group significantly reduces triglycerides. And can reduce triglycerides by 50% and raise the level of good cholesterol by 10-25%. The harmful cholesterol may increase or decrease depending on the type of disorder being treated. Special side effects are: Simple gastrointestinal disorders, there is a possibility that the drugs of this group affect the muscles causing muscle weakness myopathy. It has been observed that some of the drugs in this group interact with the sulfonylureas drugs used in the treatment of diabetes.
Resins or negative exchange resins Anion-exchange resins:
Such as colestipol, cholestyramine and cholestyramine. They are sometimes called bile acid sequestrates, because they bind to the yellow acids in the intestines and prevent their re-absorption. The liver converts more cholesterol to the yellow acids, thus lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood. This group is usually prescribed with statins for some patients with coronary heart disease to increase the effect and get a higher cholesterol reduction rate of up to 40%. But there should be a time lag between the two drugs, because the drugs in this group affect the absorption of statins.
The group's drugs hinder the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, so if prolonged, it may require vitamin A, D and K. Side effects are few because they do not absorb the usual, but symptoms may show delayed blood clotting when bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency. It usually takes a minimum of 4 hours for other drugs to ensure that there is no interaction with other drugs.
Nicotinic acid:
Such as Niacin Niacin. It works to reduce the level of triglycerides by reducing free fatty acids. This drug may lead to high glucose levels due to intolerance to glucose if the doses are large and may aggravate gout cases. Acipimax, a nicotine-derived drug, has fewer side effects but less fat.
Natural medicines Neutraceuticals:
Fish oils rich in omega-3 marine triglycerides can benefit from high triglycerides. It is believed to stimulate the body on followers of an alternative pathway to fat metabolism.
Patient education
It is the responsibility of the patient to inform him of his illness and the responsibility of the doctor, to clarify the most important related to these diseases and the meaning of infection and what will be the result in the case of neglect in addition to the risk of high cholesterol and triglycerides.
The patient must be well aware that the purpose of giving this information is not to increase his fears, but to hope that the patient is committed to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment to achieve the purpose of treatment.
In addition to the doctor's task in treating the patient, the pharmacist also has a great role in explaining the effect of the drug and its side effects that can appear, the times of taking the medication as well as the instructions and instructions that should be provided to the patient, which should focus on medication as well as adapt the lifestyle to fit The disease does not interfere with it.
The patient must always remember that he is always the origin of the treatment. He has the task of caring and maintaining his health. He is the first person in charge of himself.
The patient should not take any medication, non-medicinal or non-drug, without asking the doctor whether this treatment is proportional to his health. Drug therapy may interact with the drugs taken by the patient, resulting in a lack of appropriate treatment or doubling the effect of the drug. If any non-existent exhibitor is present, consult your doctor for possible medication.
Because these diseases have no apparent symptoms, they can be felt or touched, unless they rise at very high levels. It is necessary to know that the patient does not have a direct effects can be felt directly, so the emergence of some side effects, especially at the beginning of treatment, does not mean that the treatment is not useful, should not be less demand for treatment. In addition to not forgetting the time of medication or cutting medicine without consulting a doctor will have serious consequences.
Finally, the patient must remember that these chronic diseases have to coexist with them, adjusting the lifestyle and adapting to the commitment to what suits the healthy life with these diseases.
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