Diabetic dyslipidaemia.
Dyslipidaemia is an important component of the metabolic syndrome observed in patients with type 2 diabetes, and is characterized by moderate hypertriglyceridaemia and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations. Dyslipidaemia contributes to increased vascular risk and is therefore a good target for therapeutic intervention in the form of glycaemic control, lifestyle measures and hypolipidaemic drugs. It is proposed that lipid abnormalities in type 2 diabetes are secondary consequences of insulin resistance. Any approach that lowers insulin resistance would be anticipated to have a beneficial effect on dyslipidaemia, but in many cases patients with type 2 diabetes fail to achieve normal lipidaemia through diet, exercise and glycaemic control. Subgroup analyses of major clinical trials suggests that lipid-lowering therapy reduces CHD risk in patients with diabetes, but trials performed specifically in populations of patients with diabetes are ongoing. Until then, patients with type 2 diabetes who have established CHD or high individual risk already warrant aggressive lipid-lowering pharmacotherapy. In the author's view, when ongoing studies are complete it is likely that most patients with type 2 diabetes will be prescribed lipid-lowering drugs.
Royal Free and University College of Medical School, University College London, UK. j.betteridge@ucl.ac.uk
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D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids