Diabetes mellitus can damage the eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood vessels. It can also cause a decrease of a protein needed to break up triglycerides. Most diabetics, in fact, have a high blood triglyceride level, a high low-density lipoprotein level and a low high-density lipoprotein level. The prevention and treatment of the complications of diabetes includes treating these lipid levels.
Diabetes Mellitus Types 1 and 2
People with diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2 have an abnormally high amount of glucose in their bloodstreams, as explained in "Pathophysiology of Disease" by Janet Funk, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona. The beta cells of the pancreas normally secrete insulin to prevent the glucose level from becoming too high. Destroyed beta cells result in diabetes mellitus type 1. This type of diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks its own cells instead of only attacking foreign substances. In type 2 diabetes mellitus, the tissues do not respond to insulin as they should.
Diabetes and Triglycerides
Over time, diabetes can damage several organs in the body. It can damage the kidneys, nerves and eyes, and affect the small and large blood vessels. It can also cause hypertension, cardiovascular disease, strokes and a high lipid level. Dr. Funk writes in "Pathophysiology of Disease" that not having enough insulin can lead to a decrease of an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase. Enzymes are proteins used by the cells to make a reaction go faster. The lipoprotein lipase enzyme breaks up the triglycerides in very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol so they can store inside fat tissue. Without enough lipoprotein lipase, diabetics may have a high triglyceride level.
Diabetes, Triglycerides and High-Density Lipoproteins
In the December 2006 issue of the "British Medical Journal," Stuart Smellie also wrote that diabetics could have hypertriglyceridemia, or a high triglyceride level in the bloodstream. The normal range of triglycerides is 35 to 135 mg/dL for women and 40 to 160 mg/dL for men. Some diabetics who do not control their diabetes can have a triglyceride level that is so very high, it can cause the pancreas to become inflamed. Most diabetics, however, do have a high triglyceride level, but not that severe. They may also have a low level of high-density lipoprotein, referred to as the "good cholesterol" since it takes cholesterol to the liver for removal.
Prevention and Treatment
The goal of preventing and treating the complications of diabetes includes monitoring and treating the lipid levels so they do not become severe. Thus, physicians recommend that the triglyceride level should be below 150 mg/dL, the high-density lipoprotein level should be over 50 mg/dL for women and 40 mg/dL for men, and the low-density lipoprotein level should be less than 100 mg/dL, according to Ralph Gonzales, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of California in "Current Practice Guidelines in Primary Care." Diabetics should lose weight, follow the dietary recommendations and increase their physical activity. Their physicians may prescribe a statin cholesterol-lowering medication.
References
- "British Medical Journal"; Hypertriglyceridaemia in diabetes; Stuart Smellie; 2006
- "Current Practice Guidelines in Primary Care 2009"; Ralph Gonzales, M.D., Jean Kutner, M.D.; 2009
- "Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine"; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Gary Hammer, M.D., Ph.D.; 2010
