blood workup advice?

x-no-archive: yes

em said:

Been low-carbing almost six weeks now. I'm wondering how far one goes
along with LC, time-wise, before their blood levels start to stabilize.
Also wondering, other then standard stuff (bg, cholesterol, etc.), what
to have checked that goes along with low-carb specifically. Thanks.

It's too soon to do the lipids workup, IMO. 3-6 mos is more like it.

If you're going to do lipids, make sure to ask for VLDL. Also, you
might ask for an HbA1c, a rough average of blood glucose levels for the
past several weeks.

Your TGLs should drop, but it could take longer for your HDL to rise and
your LDL to settle into its new territory.

Susan

em said:

Been low-carbing almost six weeks now. I'm wondering how far one goes along
with LC, time-wise, before their blood levels start to stabilize. Also
wondering, other then standard stuff (bg, cholesterol, etc.), what to have
checked that goes along with low-carb specifically. Thanks.

Two different editions of the Atkins book give two different times,
but they also give two different claims about how many people
see benefits at that time length:

The older books suggested before starting and after 6 months
because around 80% of folks see improved numbers in that time.

The 2002 edition suggests before starting and after 12 weeks
because "most" aka more than 50% of folks see improved
numbers in that time.

Given that many folks see increased numbers very early on and
then a taper down, it seems like both of these claims are true
and when combined they say more about what to expect than
either claim alone. And while the claims are by Dr A about folks
on his plan, I figure they work okay for other low carb plans as
well.

As to what else to test -

My blood pressure went to normal around the end of my
Induction and has stayed there ever since. Even though I have
poor adherence to my Maintenance levels and allowed foods
it appears that I avoid bad carbs enough now to keep my BP
in line.

Think about pretty much any bad claim you've ever heard
about low carbing and it's ill effects. If you want to convince
yourself or your doctor they are nonsense, test to those
claims. Kidney function, calcium leaching in urine (which
drops off after two weeks like so many other odd stuff early
on but which antis claim to last forever), those are the ones I
can think of off the top of my head.