Diabetic Dyslipidemia

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant cause of illness, disability, and death among individuals with diabetes. The macrovascular complications of diabetes— Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Cerebro Vascular Accidents (CVA), and Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)— all being different facets of the same vascular damage – account for more than 70% of all deaths in individuals with diabetes. CVD events are four times more common in individuals with diabetes, occur at a younger age, and have a much greater case fatality rate. This is more so in Indians. Coronary Artery Disease in Indians (CADI) is phenomenon by itself. In fact, people with diabetes and no history of vascular disease have the same risk of having a heart attack or dying of vascular disease as non-diabetic individuals with a prior history of cardio vascular disease. The risk of CVD conferred by diabetes is so great that the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III identifies diabetes as a CVD risk equivalent—a condition that requires aggressive care to prevent future vascular events in people with known vascular disease. Despite the fact Dyslipidemia is a significant risk factor for the development of macrovascular complications, awareness and adequate treatment of Dyslipidemia are lacking.