Approach to Lipid Management in the Patient With Diabetes

Abstract Diabetes is associated with increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Disordered lipid metabolism is a major contributor to ASCVD risk in diabetes. Dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes is characterized by hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the presence of small, dense low-density lipoprotein particles. Statins have demonstrated longstanding benefit for reducing ASCVD risk in individuals with diabetes. Newer agents for add-on therapies to statins are now available for additional cardiovascular risk reduction. In this clinical overview, we review the pathogenesis of dyslipidemia in both type 1 and 2 diabetes and provide an update on the management of lipids in the individual with diabetes. We discuss the importance of appropriate risk stratification and individualized treatment selection and the need to avoid therapy inertia to mitigate cardiovascular risk. We also address lipid-related effects of glycemic-lowering therapies.