By Adam Garcia
Today in Diabetic Dictionary we will show you what a lipid profile is and we will be discussing the basics of cholesterol.
A lipid profile is a blood test that measures total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is then calculated from the results. A lipid profile is one measure of a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease.
So that you know, Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver and found in certain foods, such as food from animals, like dairy products (whole milk), eggs and meat. The body needs some cholesterol in order to function properly. Its cell walls, or membranes, need cholesterol in order to produce hormones, vitamin D and the bile acids that help to digest fat, however, the body needs only a small amount of cholesterol to meet its needs. When too much is present health problems such as coronary heart disease may develop. LDL cholesterol, stands for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and is a fat found in the blood that takes cholesterol around the body to where it is needed for cell repair and also deposits it on the inside of artery walls. It is sometimes called “bad” cholesterol. Then there is HDL cholesterol, which stands for high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and it is also a fat found in the blood that takes extra cholesterol from the blood to the liver for removal. HDL is sometimes called “good” cholesterol. Then you have triglycerides, these are the storage form of fat in the body. High triglyceride levels may occur when diabetes is out of control. Of course, all of the above types of cholesterol will equal your total cholesterol. Below is an example of a lipid profile:
We will go more in depth about cholesterol and the types there are in the upcoming weeks and next week we will delve into LDL cholesterol on diabetic dictionary.
If you wish to discuss more about the lipid profile, email us. Also, if you have a question about something you don’t understand, you can leave the question or comment below.
