title: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors.
abstract: The risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is multifactorial and includes such risk factors as diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and dyslipidemia. Thus, targeting the hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) alone will not eliminate all of the excess cardiovascular risk; rather aggressive treatment is needed for all of the modifiable cardiometabolic risk factors. Therapeutic lifestyle change is considered primary therapy for hyperglycemia in type 2 DM. Currently, however, the focus in treatment is on preventing CVD rather than controlling glucose, lipid, or blood pressure (BP) levels. The American Diabetes Association guidelines identify low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as the first priority of lipid lowering, with optimal level set at <100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L). To reach the target BP level of <130/85 mm Hg, >65% of patients with DM and hypertension will require 2 or more different antihypertensive drugs. Strategies that combine thiazolidinediones and statins may have complementary effects on cardiovascular risk-factor profiles in type 2 DM, in addition to controlling glycemia. Despite the range of treatment options available, therapeutic agents that target new steps in the progression of CVD are needed, as patients with type 2 DM remain at increased risk and many do not achieve therapeutic targets with the drugs available.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Unit, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14627, USA. johngerich@compuserve.com
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gerich
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002995:Clofibric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D050171:Dyslipidemias; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D002995:Clofibric Acid