While you may have heard of cholesterol, triglycerides are another type of lipid that circulates in the blood. It is a type of fat, while cholesterol is a waxy substance needed to build the structure of cell membranes and to support hormonal health.
Similar to cholesterol, your body requires triglycerides for good health. However, high levels of triglycerides can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Not just that, a rise in triglyceride levels may also impact your risk of diabetes. Here’s all you need to know.
What Are Triglycerides?
Dr Mahesh D M, Consultant – Endocrinology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, describes triglycerides as fats found in the bloodstream, which are a crucial component of the body’s energy storage system.
“They are formed from glycerol and three fatty acids, which can be either saturated or unsaturated,” he tells the OnlyMyHealth team, adding that when the body consumes more calories than it needs, especially from carbohydrates and fats, it converts these excess calories into triglycerides.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, triglycerides come from foods, especially butter, oils, and other fats you eat. These triglycerides are then stored in fat cells for later use.
Dr Mahesh highlights that elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood can indicate various health issues, including obesity, diabetes, and Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), urging careful monitoring.
Are Elevated Triglyceride Levels Linked To Increased Diabetes Risk?
According to the Mayo Clinic, high triglyceride levels can be a sign of type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
In fact, Dr Mahesh says that prediabetes is often preceded by high triglyceride levels, adding that metabolic syndrome, characterised by high blood pressure, excess abdominal fat, impaired fasting glucose, and low HDL cholesterol, frequently includes elevated triglycerides.
High levels of triglycerides often indicate insulin resistance, a condition where the body’s cells do not respond effectively to insulin. Insulin resistance is a primary risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes because it impairs the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels.
Unfortunately, the combination of high triglycerides and diabetes can also elevate cardiovascular risk in multiple ways. These include:
Atherosclerosis: Elevated triglycerides contribute to plaque buildup in arteries, hindering blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Vascular dysfunction: high blood sugar impairs blood vessel responsiveness, promoting plaque formation and restricting blood flow.
Thrombosis risk: Increased blood sugar can enhance blood clotting, raising the chance of a heart attack or stroke.
How To Lower Triglyceride Levels?
Here are some ways to help lower triglycerides and reduce the risk of diabetes:
• Eat smaller portions and frequent meals that are high in natural fibre, such as fresh vegetables, millet, wholegrains, cereals, and legumes. Fibre can help slow the absorption of sugars, lower blood sugar levels, and interfere with the absorption of dietary fat and cholesterol.
• Avoid fatty meats, high-fat dairy foods, and desserts. Instead, choose healthier fats like olive oils and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and mackerel.
• Reduce consumption of high-sugar foods and drinks, such as aerated beverages, and highly processed foods that are made with white flour, or fructose, as these can increase triglycerides.
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