Blood Cholesterol Test

[huahindolly]

I'm wondering if they use a different numerical scale for cholesterol readings here in Thailand compared to the U.S.

Both my husband and I had our blood tested at the Polyclinic, and each of our readings was about 100 points lower! Mind you, we don't eat as much cheese and butter, and we eat a lot more fruit than we did in the U.S., but 100 points in three months is one for the medical journals.

Has anybody had a similar experience? Any reason why the readings would be so different?

HHD

[Hobiecat]

My folks were here last year. My mother having a blood sugar problem in addition to high colesterol. After eating a steady diet of Thai food for six weeks they had dropped by a huge amount. She had also lost five pounds.

She joking said she'll be back next year to eat herself healthy and thin.

[expatsally]

just out of couriosity, what were your scores U.S. vs. Thailand?

[DawnHRD]

My folks were here last year. My mother having a blood sugar problem in addition to high colesterol. After eating a steady diet of Thai food for six weeks they had dropped by a huge amount. She had also lost five pounds.

She joking said she'll be back next year to eat herself healthy and thin.

What you said about the blood sugar really surprises me, Hobiecat. My Mum is an insulind dependent diabetic. When she first moved to Thailand, her blood sugar went much higher. When her doctor asked her if she was eating Thai food & she answered in the affirmative, he told her straight away that that was the problem. Seemingly Thais add spoons of sugar to even savoury tasting food. If you ever watch a som tam vendor, you'll know that's true.

I don't know about the scale for cholestorol HHD, but the scale for blood sugar is different here. When my Mum was in hospital for surgery & monitoring her own blood sugar, the nurses didn't know what her readings meant & conversely, we didn't understand theirs.

[huahindolly]

expatsally -

Both of our U.S. readings were around 250; here, they're around 150. Sounds like what Dawn said about blood sugar - must be a different scale, eh?

HHD

[Big Boy]

I can confirm what Dawn says about the Thai food. I always know that I'm to bet a good telling off following the first blood test after visiting Thailand.

The problem is that when on holiday I eat out most of the time. For home cooking, my wife always uses a sugar free substitute. When on holiday we always take a good supply. Does anybody know if you can buy the sugar free sweetener in Thailand?

Of course my high sugar levels have nothing to do with the additional beer intake

[ricardo]

Hua Hin Dolly,

Do you know what type of cholesterol test you were given as there are different scales for different types. Normally total cholesterol and LDL (Bad Cholesterol) are what we should monitor.

Total Cholesterol OK <200 Border High 200 - 239 High >240

LDL (Bad Cholesterol) OK <130 Border High 130 - 159 High >160

In the U.S your readings would have referred to your Total Cholesterol and your results in Hiua Hin probably refer to LDL Cholesterol.

I had a test last year in Hua Hin that had low readings 165 so I was very surprised to be told by the Dr that I had high cholesterol.
It was only after checking online that I discovered there were different types.

[PJG]

BB,

As far as I know the answer is no. I always have to carry multi Jars of Tesco's or Sainsbury's finest Low Cal Sweetener from Uk for the wife and family.

[Hobiecat]

What you said about the blood sugar really surprises me, Hobiecat. My Mum is an insulind dependent diabetic. When she first moved to Thailand, her blood sugar went much higher. When her doctor asked her if she was eating Thai food & she answered in the affirmative, he told her straight away that that was the problem. Seemingly Thais add spoons of sugar to even savoury tasting food. If you ever watch a som tam vendor, you'll know that's true.

I don't know about the scale for cholestorol HHD, but the scale for blood sugar is different here. When my Mum was in hospital for surgery & monitoring her own blood sugar, the nurses didn't know what her readings meant & conversely, we didn't understand theirs.

I guess she must been eating a bit different diet than you mom as she would test her blood everyday with a test kit she brought from home and it steadily went down for the whole time period that she was here.

[Hobiecat]

Does anybody know if you can buy the sugar free sweetener in Thailand.

If your refering to the small tablets for your coffee or tea. Yes no problem I buy in Lotus all the time.

[Big Boy]

Does anybody know if you can buy the sugar free sweetener in Thailand.

If your refering to the small tablets for your coffee or tea. Yes no problem I buy in Lotus all the time.

That's part of it, but more importantly have you seen the jars of white sweetener there? The fact they do the tablets is encouraging because the jars are normally on the next shelf in the UK.

[DawnHRD]

You can actually buy jars of something called Lite Sugar here. It's sugar mixed with sweetener, so it still tastes like sugar (no aftertaste), but you use a lot less of it to get the same level of sweetness. That's available in jars (as mentioned) & individual sachets. No good for diabetics, but useful if you just want to cut your sugar intake.