title: Treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: Type 2 diabetes is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels may be normal in patients with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance drives a number of changes in lipid metabolism and lipoprotein composition that render low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other lipoproteins more pathogenic than species found in patients without type 2 diabetes. Dyslipidemia, which affects almost 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes, is a cardiovascular risk factor characterized by elevated triglyceride levels, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and a preponderance of small, dense, low-density lipoprotein particles. Early, aggressive pharmacological management is advocated to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, regardless of baseline levels. A number of lipid-lowering agents, including statins, fibrates, niacin, and bile acid sequestrants, are available to target normalization of the entire lipid profile. Despite use of combination and high-dose lipid-lowering agents, many patients with type 2 diabetes do not achieve lipid targets. This review outlines the characteristics and prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes and discusses strategies that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in this population.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute, Scottsdale, AZ, USA. kvijaymd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Krishnaswami
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vijayaraghavan
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides