Diabetes and High Cholesterol: The Link, How to Manage It, and the Role of Statins

“We’re always considering your heart health when we are taking care of your diabetes,” says Sonal Chaudhry, MD, Endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health. “That’s because the diagnosis of diabetes is associated with cardiovascular complications.” 

That may mean that you will be prescribed a statin (a medication to lower cholesterol) if you’re over the age of 40 and/or have certain risk factors and have Type 2 diabetes.

If you’re under the age of 40, your provider may prescribe a statin if you have certain risk factors, such as if you’re experiencing complications from your Type 2 diabetes or if you’ve lived with diabetes for many years.

“If you have multiple risk factors for heart disease or severe diabetes, your provider may prescribe a high-intensity statin, which is generally stronger, to help reduce cholesterol levels,” adds Chaudhry.

Make sure to talk to your diabetes care team to learn more about the risk factors for heart disease and other diabetes complications. 

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Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to practicing medicine, she worked as a management consultant.

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