Will dietary changes help my sister lower her triglycerides?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am writing on behalf of my younger sister, who is 29 years old and had her blood work done last week. We were all shocked because her triglycerides came back at 1,240 mg/dL, and the lab even flagged the result as critical.

Her doctor immediately referred her to a specialist, but the appointment is still two weeks away. We are very worried at home. She was recently diagnosed with severely high triglyceride levels, and the doctor mentioned the risk of pancreatitis, which scared us because she had a mild episode of pancreatitis last year.

She does not drink alcohol and does not eat very oily foods. However, she has type 2 diabetes, and her last HbA1c was 9.2 %. She has also been taking oral contraceptive pills for the past year to manage PCOS. She is slightly overweight, weighing around 84 kg at 5 feet 3 inches tall.

Her LDL cholesterol is 142 mg/dL, and her HDL is very low at 31 mg/dL. No one in our family has had triglyceride levels this high before. Her doctor started her on fenofibrate 145 mg, but did not mention any additional treatment.

Should she go to the emergency department with triglyceride levels this high, or is it reasonable to wait for her specialist appointment? Also, what dietary changes are most effective for lowering triglyceride levels quickly in cases of severe hypertriglyceridemia?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

A triglyceride level of 1240 mg/dL is very high and increases the risk of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, an organ that helps with digestion and blood sugar control), especially since she had an episode before. However, she does not need to rush to the emergency unless she develops severe upper abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, fever, or pain in the back. If any of these happen, go immediately.

The main reasons for such high levels are poorly controlled diabetes, excess weight, and oral contraceptive pills, which can raise triglycerides significantly. Fenofibrate 145 mg (milligrams) is the correct first treatment. Tight sugar control is extremely important.

The dietary changes that work fastest include completely avoiding sugar, sweets, fruit juices, bakery items, fried foods, ghee, butter, and alcohol. Oil intake should be kept to a minimum. Achieving good blood glucose control can also help lower triglyceride levels more quickly.

Kindly book a consultation with me if you would like more detailed information on any of these points, or if you have other questions.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.

Regards.