Because cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among people with diabetes, the ADA recommends an annual fasting lipid panel as part of regular preventive diabetes care. If you are working with your physician to control lipid levels through medication or diet, testing may be done more often.

A fasting lipid profile is a blood test that assesses your risk for developing cardiovascular complications by measuring levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol.

It is also used to diagnose dyslipidemia, a condition characterized by unhealthy blood lipid, or fat, profiles. This includes the high triglyceride and low HDL cholesterol levels that are common in type 2 diabetes and increase the overall risk of heart disease.

Cholesterol Levels Recommended for General Diabetes Population

*The National Cholesterol Education Program

People with diabetes and existing cardiovascular disease may have more stringent cholesterol goals. Talk to your health care provider about the cholesterol targets that are right for you. Medical history, gender, age, ethnicity, and even geographic region of origin can affect cholesterol levels. Triglyceride levels can be raised by kidney and liver disease and alcoholism. High serum cholesterol levels can be triggered by poor dietary habits, pancreatitis, hypothyroidism, genetic lipid disorders, and certain kidney and liver diseases. High LDL levels reflect an increased risk of coronary artery disease.