Quality Health Care and You - Diabetes

Cholesterol Control

What it is

Everyone has a certain amount of cholesterol – and it's not always a bad thing. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all the cells of the body, including blood. There are two kinds of lipoproteins which carry cholesterol through your body: LDL (Low-Density Lipoproteins) or "bad cholesterol" and HDL (High-Density Lipoproteins) or "good cholesterol".

How it Relates to Diabetes

Diabetics tend to have more cholesterol abnormalities. These variances can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. By managing your cholesterol, especially lowering LDL cholesterol, you reduce your chance of developing cardiovascular disease and early death. In fact, diabetics who lower their LDL cholesterol can reduce their risk of heart attack by up to 42 percent!

The Quality Standard - How to Know You’re Okay

Your health care provider should check your blood fat levels at least once a year. Here's what the results should say:

LDL (bad) cholesterol should be less than 100
If you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, some organizations have recommended that LDL should be less than 70.
HDL (good) cholesterol should be more than 40 for men and more than 50 for women.
Triglycerides should be less than 150
Total cholesterol should be less than 200

Sometimes diet and exercise aren't enough to bring cholesterol back to normal, and medication may be needed. Statin drugs are one way your health care provider may try to lower your LDL if it is too high.

To Learn More

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This article is a NetWellness exclusive. NetWellness Article

Last Reviewed: Jun 05, 2008

David C Aron, MD, MS
Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Associate Chief of Staff, VA Medical Center
Division of Endocrinology
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University