Having diabetes is a strong risk factor for developing heart disease. Because your risk for having a heart attack is typically as high as that of a person with heart disease, your LDL goal and cholesterol-lowering treatment are the same as for someone who has heart disease.

As is the case for people with heart disease, your LDL goal is less than 100 mg/dL. The main aim of cholesterol-lowering treatment is to get your LDL down to less than 100 mg/dL.

High triglyceride and low HDL levels are often present in people who have diabetes. After your LDL goal has been reached, attention may have to be paid to the high triglyceride and low HDL levels.

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