People with diabetes are at risk for heart disease. Therefore, cholesterol levels and triglyceride (a type of blood lipid) levels need to be checked at least once a year. All that is needed is a simple blood test.
It also helps to know as much as possible about cholesterol and what you can do to keep your cholesterol levels where they should be.
Golden rule: Keep the “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels low and the “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels high.
What is cholesterol?
What is cholesterol?
The body actually needs some cholesterol.
The body actually needs some cholesterol. But many people have too much of the “bad” cholesterol instead of the “good” cholesterol. Over time, this can cause things called plaque to build up in the arteries, leaving less room for blood flow.
A blocked blood vessel in the heart can cause chest pain, heart attack, or stroke.
“Good” HDL cholesterol helps the body get rid of “bad” LDL, and the higher the HDL level, the better.
Although different from cholesterol, another type of lipid called triglycerides can also make people more susceptible to heart disease. Triglycerides should also be kept low.
What factors can affect cholesterol levels?
- Diet. The saturated fats in the foods you eat can increase “bad” cholesterol levels.
- Weight. Extra body weight raises cholesterol and increases your chances of heart disease.
- Exercise.
- Exercise. Exercise regularly because it lowers the “bad” cholesterol and raises the “good” cholesterol.
- Exercise.
- Genes. Genes affect the amount of cholesterol your body synthesizes. High cholesterol can run in families.
- Gene.
- Other causes. Some medications and medical conditions may raise cholesterol levels. High triglycerides may come from diabetes or thyroid problems. Losing excess weight and avoiding high-calorie foods may help.
What should my total cholesterol level be?
A blood test is all that is needed to find out what your cholesterol level is.
Your doctor may recommend fasting for 8 to 12 hours before testing to measure triglycerides, LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol. Or, you can start with a test that shows your total cholesterol level without fasting.
The doctor may start with a non-fasting test and then recommend a lipid analysis based on the results. It may be possible to receive additional tests at a later time to see how well treatment is working.
Lifestyle improvements can help
Many of the ways to help manage diabetes also help lower cholesterol and triglycerides, and protect the heart.
- Modify your diet. Avoid saturated fats and trans fats. Instead, eat unsaturated fats, such as those found in canola oil, olive oil, or liquid margarine. Eat more fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds, which contain cholesterol-lowering nutrients such as fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and phytosterols and sterols.
- If you smoke, quit. Smoking lowers “good” HDL cholesterol levels. When you quit smoking, it returns to normal levels.
- Lose the extra weight. This helps lower “bad” cholesterol and elevated triglycerides.
- Exercise.
- Exercise. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can help raise “good” cholesterol levels, lower triglyceride levels, improve diabetes, get healthier and lower high blood pressure, and lower your chances of heart disease.
Do you need medication?
Some people who are making healthy lifestyle changes also need medication to lower their cholesterol. Often, doctors recommend treatment with a drug called a statin.
If you have diabetes and are between the ages of 40 and 75, your doctor may recommend treatment with a moderate dose of a statin and lifestyle changes that can help reduce the chance of heart disease or a heart attack.
If you have diabetes and fat and cholesterol build up in your arteries (a problem called atherosclerosis), your doctor will want to use a higher dose of a statin along with a healthy lifestyle, which can help reduce the chance of having another heart attack or similar life-threatening problem.
Statins are usually not needed if you are younger than 40 years old and do not have heart disease.
Other medications that may help lower cholesterol include:
- Betablockers;
- Niacin;
- bile acid binding resins;
- Ezetimibe;
- High-dose or prescription fish oil supplements (triglyceride-lowering).
Remember: These medications work best when a healthy diet is followed and exercise is adhered to.