Clinical review 124 - Diabetic dyslipidemia: Causes and consequences

Much of the pathophysiology linking diabetes and dyslipidemia has been elucidated. Although undoubtedly of importance, diabetic dyslipidemia is likely to be but one of many reasons for the accelerated macrovascular disease in diabetic patients. Nonetheless, treatment of lipid abnormalities has the potential to reduce cardiovascular events more than 50%, to rates that are seen in countries with lower cholesterol and less atherosclerotic burden. This leads to the expectation that treatment of elevated lipid levels will allow patients with diabetes to lead longer healthier lives.