Dyslipidemia refers to abnormal blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (lipids, or fats). It is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Many people don’t realize that this problem can start in early adulthood or even sooner. Because this heart disease is the leading cause of death among people with type 1 diabetes, researchers wanted to know: How aware are younger people of their cholesterol levels? And, is dyslipidemia being treated adequately?

A study investigates

• Results from the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes study confirm that there are problems. The researchers measured fasting blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels in 1,416 people, ages 19 to 56, with no history of coronary artery disease; 652 (average age, 37 years) had type 1 diabetes. The study participants filled out questionnaires designed to reveal their awareness of their cholesterol status and the treatment they were undergoing for abnormal blood fat levels.
• In the study, dyslipidemia was defined as having at least one of the following:
• low-density-lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol at or above 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood
• high-density-lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol below 40 mg/dL
• total cholesterol (LDL and HDL) at or above 200 mg/dL
• triglycerides at or above 150 mg/dL.

In addition, the participants were classified as having dyslipidemia if their test results were normal but they were taking any type of cholesterol-lowering medication.

Participants were considered to be aware of the problem if they reported that their doctor told them their cholesterol or triglyceride level was high.

And the answer is . . . a surprise

The people with type 1 diabetes had significantly less dyslipidemia than those without diabetes. In addition, more of the type 1 participants were aware of the problem and taking medication for it.

Nonetheless, 47% of those with type 1 diabetes did have dyslipidemia (compared with 58% of the non-diabetes group), with only about half of them aware of this condition. And of the 36% taking medication, less than half had gotten their lipid levels under control.

The fact that the people with type 1 had a better showing doesn’t change these facts: Dyslipidemia is largely undiagnosed and undertreated in people with type 1 diabetes. And regardless of their cholesterol levels, these individuals are at higher risk for coronary artery disease than people who don’t have diabetes.

From Diabetes Care