Bile acid sequestrants and diabetes: introduction and overview to the supplement.

Diabetes is a global epidemic. The recommended goals for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and blood pressure are achieved only in a very small minority of patients. In this supplement to Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, we review the data showing that the bile acid sequestrant colesevelam lowers both HbA1c and LDL-C in patients with diabetes. These data make colesevelam an attractive therapy to get more patients to achieve their LDL-C and HbA1c goals.