Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery disease.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with a marked increase in the risk of coronary artery disease. Dyslipidemia is believed to be a major source of this increased risk. Several studies in diabetic patients have demonstrated a decreased incidence of coronary artery disease with the use of drugs that lower the level of low-density lipoprotein in diabetic patients, but other forms of dyslipidemia, such as hypertriglyceridemia, are believed to play a role in the etiology of coronary artery disease in diabetes. Drugs, such as fenofibrate, which improve these other forms of dyslipidemia, are being investigated in diabetic patients to determine if they decrease mortality and morbidity from coronary artery disease.