From the Guidelines
For individuals with normal triglycerides, glucose, HbA1c, and cholesterol levels, the primary recommendation is to maintain these healthy values through continued lifestyle practices, as outlined by the American Heart Association's 2006 diet and lifestyle recommendations revision 1. To achieve this, focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats while limiting processed foods, added sugars, and excessive saturated fats.
- Key dietary recommendations include:
- Consuming a diet rich in vegetables and fruits
- Choosing whole-grain, high-fiber foods
- Consuming fish, especially oily fish, at least twice a week
- Limiting intake of saturated fat to 7% of energy, trans fat to 1% of energy, and cholesterol to 300 mg/day
- Additionally, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling, as physical activity is a crucial component of maintaining healthy levels 1.
- Other important lifestyle practices include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight or working toward weight loss if needed
- Avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption to moderate levels (up to one drink daily for women and up to two for men)
- Managing stress through techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises
- Getting adequate sleep, typically 7-9 hours nightly
- Regular health check-ups, generally annually or as recommended by your healthcare provider, are also essential to monitor these values and make any necessary adjustments to maintain metabolic health 1.
From the Research
Normal Triglycerides, Glucose, HbA1c, and Cholesterol Levels
- Individuals with normal triglycerides, glucose, HbA1c, and cholesterol levels should continue to minimize saturated fats and refined carbohydrates, eliminate trans-fat, and increase fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and fish or other omega-3 fatty acids in their diet 2.
- Adhering to a Mediterranean diet is strongly recommended due to its benefits in lowering cardiovascular disease and total mortality 2.
- High-dose omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to lower triglyceride levels, reduce cardiovascular disease risk, and prevent coronary plaque progression 2, 3.
Dietary Recommendations
- A clinician guide to counsel patients on nutrition and heart-healthy diets was recently published, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet in maintaining normal triglycerides, glucose, HbA1c, and cholesterol levels 2.
- The relationship between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and triglyceride levels has been studied, highlighting the importance of maintaining tight glycemic control to prevent micro- and macro-vascular complications associated with diabetes 4, 5.
Risk Assessment
- HbA1c can be used as a marker of elevated LDL and TAG levels, and as an indicator of cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus 4, 5.
- The correlation between HbA1c and triglyceride levels can help identify patients at increased risk of cardiovascular events 4.
- High HbA1c values increase the risk of elevating LDL-cholesterol levels and TAG levels, while high BMI values increase the risk of lowering HDL-cholesterol levels in the female population 5.