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Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high.

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

Type 2 diabetes can affect your cardiovascular health, so you and your care team should monitor your cholesterol.

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP profile image

Reviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Updated on January 9, 2023

“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. 

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Cholesterol-lowering medicines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Diabetes and your heart.

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