Having high triglyceride levels means having too much fat in your blood. But it also means much more than that. For both type 2 diabetics and non-diabetics, it means a dramatic increase in the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease, among other concerns. Reducing these risks should be at the forefront of your health.

In this fourth installment of the four-part series, we look at more ways to lower triglycerides…

1. Eat lots of green leafy vegetables. These greens contribute a great deal to your overall health, but they especially help lower your cholesterol and that all-important triglyceride level. Do you need another good excuse to introduce them into your diet? As well as being packed with an ample supply of vitamins and minerals, they also contain very few calories, meaning you can fill up on them and reap the benefits without the consequences.

2. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight is a sure sign that your fat intake is unhealthy. No one gets fat from eating too many vegetables. Ironically, excess weight is the most common characteristic of a person diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, losing this weight will help tremendously in many areas of your health, including lowering your triglyceride levels . Just make sure you lose excess weight slowly and safely without risking your health with fad diets that never work.

3. Exercise. Keeping your blood healthy while reducing fat at the same time are two of the main benefits of exercise. Exercise lowers LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels, including triglycerides, and increases HDL or “good” cholesterol levels. Diabetics can even enjoy exercise by choosing a low-impact version that will burn enough calories without overloading your body and lowering your blood sugar too much.

4. Reduce your alcohol intake. Alcohol is so harmful to your body. Having high triglyceride levels is just the beginning of your problems. The other big problems that alcohol consumption brings are:

  • high blood pressure,
  • have an increased risk of stroke and heart attack,
  • liver Disease,
  • weight gain,
  • nerve damage,
  • blood vessel damage, and so on.

5. See your doctor regularly. As a general rule, the better your health, the less often you need to see your doctor. Two or three doctor visits a year are enough if you have no complications and have good control of your blood sugar.

Your doctor may want you to come back more often in certain situations and this would include high cholesterol and triglyceride levels to check they stay in line. If you have to cancel a scheduled appointment, be sure to reschedule as soon as possible.