Dyslipidemias in diabetic patients. Is standard cholesterol treatment appropriate?

Optimum care of diabetic patients should include screening for lipid abnormalities. The combination of high triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which is common in non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes, should be considered a separate risk factor for coronary artery disease. Pharmacologic therapy for dyslipidemias should be considered early in diabetic patients with atherosclerotic disease that has not responded to hygienic measures, including diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. Use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and gemfibrozil (Lopid) may be more appropriate for treatment of diabetic dyslipidemias than niacin or bile acid-binding resins.