With a Triglyceride Level of 1300, My Moment of Paleo Eureka

Meet the old Don

I went to the doctor for terrible headaches-migraines and during the pre-doctor visit my blood pressure was an unbelievable 210/178! What a day that was, you should have seen the nurse’s face while she read my blood pressure and re-took it several times! Anyway, my doctor put me on blood pressure medicine that day and on the follow-up visit, I had both blood and urine tests done. When results came back I was also Type II diabetic with high cholesterol at 300, so I was also put on Metformin and a statin. It was highly suggested that I change my diet to improve my lipid issues and to lose some weight. 

They put me on a standard low-fat diet. I followed this diet and on my next doctor’s visit, my blood work was even worse. My triglycerides where 1300! And my doctor told me that my kidneys looked to be in trouble too (potential kidney failure). She wanted to know what I had done to make matters worse. I told her I did exactly what she told me to do. I received one of those looks, which says, “ I don’t believe you.” 

The drive home was sobering. I did what was asked of me from the medical community and things got worse and to boot, my Doctor didn’t believe I was following “their diet.” I got home and realized I needed to be figure this out and started searching on Google on why people get fat and sick and eventually found the “Paleo Diet.” With my background is in science, all this Paleo perspective just made perfect sense to me. It was my moment of EUREKA! 

I pulled numerous papers and bought several books and the rest is history. Except my library is getting larger on this subject, and I am still mystified that this is not mainstream information. Anyway, I started to lose weight, might I say effortlessly, and feel fantastic. After reading some info on statins and Metformin I began, against my doctor’s advice, taking myself off my medications. Today, I am off all medications; I am not diabetic or concerned about heart disease or kidney failure. However, my Doctor is still concerned about my cholesterol level ~ 210 and she wants me back on the statins. I don’t think so….

Meet Don Today!

What was the biggest challenge to adopting a carbohydrate-restricted or paleo diet?
For me, it was pretty easy since it was a matter of living or dying. But the one thing I do remember being challenging was throwing all that processed food away. I wish I could have the money I spent on that crap back in my pocket again.

What advice (if any) would you give to someone interested in trying a carbohydrate-restricted or paleo diet? Were there any obstacles that you overcame that could help future dieters?
I believe they should do the often quoted "30 day challenge," and see if they don't feel and look better. My only other recommendation is to get rid of all the processed food in your house, so you don't eat it or are tempted to eat it.

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