Cholesterol is a substance important to overall health, for building new cells and manufacturing hormones. Your body creates two main types: LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, which should be low, and HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, which should be high. If you have diabetes, you are more susceptible to poor cholesterol levels; this places you at risk for cardiovascular disease. Likewise, abnormal cholesterol levels increase your risk for developing diabetes.
Diabetic Dyslipidemia
You have diabetic dyslipidemia when your cholesterol is going in the wrong direction -- your LDL is too high and your HDL is too low. Diabetes tends to have this effect on your cholesterol levels, increasing your risk for both heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Disease explains that a link may exist between pre-diabetes, atherosclerosis -- hardening of the arteries -- and diabetic dyslipidemia.
LDL Cholesterol
Most people refer to LDL as "bad" cholesterol -- when too much circulates through your blood, it builds up in the inner walls of your arteries, forming plaque and increasing your risk for heart disease. The target level for LDL is 100 mg/dL or less, but if you are diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor may want you to aim for 70 mg/dL or below. Doing so can reduce your risk of heart disease by 20 to 50 percent.
HDL Cholesterol
HDL is your friend, the good cholesterol. It clears the LDL from your blood and arteries, transporting it back to your liver where it is broken down and excreted from your body. Your target is 60 mg/dL or higher, to provide the most protection against heart disease -- whether you have diabetes or not. An HDL level below 40 mg/dL increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Triglycerides
This is the form fat takes in your blood -- the type of fat that is also found in the foods you eat. When your triglycerides are too high, atherosclerosis can result. This condition causes plaque to build up along the walls of the arteries, forcing them to harden, resulting in a reduction of blood flow and an increase in blood pressure. Both those who are healthy and those with diabetes should aim for a triglycerides level of 150 mg/dL or lower.
Treatment
In addition to factors such as the foods you eat, obesity, physical inactivity and lifestyle habits such as smoking, your blood sugar, or blood glucose level, has an effect on your cholesterol as well. Eating healthier foods, losing weight and becoming more physically active can reduce your risk of high cholesterol and your risk of developing diabetes. If you have diabetes, controlling your glucose levels can help you ensure that your cholesterol stays within a healthy range, according to the American Diabetes Foundation.
