Therapeutic approaches to dyslipidemia in diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and the closely related metabolic syndrome are associated with significant risk for cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence suggests that both conditions are increasing in epidemic proportions. Dyslipidemia is characterized by increased triglyceride-rich lipoproteins; low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; small, dense low-density lipoprotein particles; increased postprandial lipemia; and abnormal apolipoprotein A1 and B metabolism. All these lipoprotein disturbances accelerate atherosclerosis in these patients. It is likely that many patients will need combinations of lipid-modifying therapy to achieve American Diabetes Association (ADA), Adult Treatment Panel III, and American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) guidelines to help prevent cardiovascular disease and death.