Could diabetes affect your cholesterol levels?

Jennifer Caudle, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician explains why it’s so important for diabetics to have their cholesterol levels tested yearly.

Transcript

00:00

I know everybody's doctor bugs them about cholesterol. But if you have diabetes, there's a good reason why, and it's why I

00:07

spend extra time with my patients with diabetes, to make sure they understand why it's so important to get tested.

00:17

Generally I'd recommend aiming to keep LDL numbers below 100. Or for those with other heart-disease risk factors,

00:24

aim even lower, below 70. You see, high blood sugar resulting from diabetes can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart.

00:33

So those with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease, such as heart attack and stroke. They are also more likely to have risk factors for heart

00:42

disease, like high cholesterol. But it's generally recommended that you get a test at least once a year.

00:48

If your LDL levels are high, you can lower them. The first step, of course, is speaking to your health-care provider about the safest

00:56

and the healthiest ways to do it. Some things I recommend, depending on the patient, are changing your diet, exercising more,

01:05

and quitting smoking. These can all decrease your LDL levels. Speak to your doctor about which changes would be safest

01:12

and most beneficial for you. [MUSIC PLAYING]