Hypercholesterolaemia and diabetes mellitus.

An association of essential hypercholesterolaemia and diabetes mellitus is postulated. Case records are included to illustrate hypercholesterolaemia secondary to acute diabetes mellitus, and essential hypercholesterolaemia, independent of, but accompanying diabetes mellitus. Whereas in the former the serum cholesterol returns to normal and its attendant clinical manifestations resolve when the diabetes is controlled, this is not so in the latter type. Evidence is presented to show that impaired carbohydrate tolerance is not a feature of essential hypercholesterolaemia.