Lipids and Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Therapeutic Options

SUMMARY Diabetes mellitus is a very common disease with a high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This articles reviews the types of lipid disorders that can accompany diabetes mellitus and the evidence that treatment of dyslipidaemia improves primary and secondary endpoints, i.e. lipid levels, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Specific lipid-lowering strategies are discussed, including diet and exercise, treatment of hyperglycaemia, and the use of lipid-lowering therapy such as statins, fibric acid derivatives, bile acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid and its derivatives, fish oil and hormone replacement therapy. An approach to the patient with diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia is provided.