Cholesterol and Diabetes
About cholesterol and diabetes
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance (lipid) that all humans naturally produce. It provides many benefits to the body, including helping to build and repair cell membranes, and providing a starting point in the formation of hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. However, abnormal cholesterol levels can build up and form plaque within the arteries, leading to heart and blood vessel disease. People with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death from diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).In general, people with diabetes can reduce their risk of health problems by maintaining the following cholesterol levels, according to the ADA.
How diabetes affects cholesterol?
Diabetes tends to lower “good” cholesterol and raise triglyceride and “bad” cholesterol levels, which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. This common condition is called diabetic dyslipidemia.”Diabetic dyslipidemia means your lipid profile is going in the wrong direction. It’s a deadly combination that puts patients at risk for premature coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis — where the arteries become clogged with accumulated fat and other substances,” said Richard Nesto, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.
In the blood, cholesterol is carried in small packages called lipoproteins (lip-o-PRO-teens). Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol through your body. It’s important to have healthy levels of both LOW-density and HIGH-density lipoproteins.Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries. Some people call LDL “bad” cholesterol. You can remember LDL by thinking, L is for “Lousy.” The higher the LDL level in your blood, the greater chance you have of getting heart disease. That’s pretty lousy, indeed.High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are also known as “good” cholesterol (think, H is for “Happy”). HDL helps remove cholesterol from your body, so the higher your HDL, the lower your chance for getting heart disease.
What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
People with diabetes are more likely to have and die from cardiovascular problems (like a heart attack or stroke) than those without diabetes. Some studies show that high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and low HDL (“good”) cholesterol in people with diabetes is a strong sign they’ll have a future heart attack. This is true even after patients improved their blood glucose and blood pressure levels. However, it is still not clear which problem high LDL or low HDL is worse.
High cholesterol levels are as serious as high blood pressure, whether you are diabetic or non-diabetic. Heart disease and stroke, both of which have been linked to high cholesterol in both men and women, are two of the leading causes of death for diabetics.
The common lesson of the two stories is: take care of your body by exercising and avoiding animal foods, and your chances of living a longer, healthier life will be greatly increased.Unfortunately, people are lazy, and it’s true most would rather pop a pill than alter their “lifestyle.” But the proven, dramatic benefits of such lifestyle changes are rarely given the prominence they deserve in the medical advice that most people receive.
