Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCholesterol ChangesMetabolic SyndromeWhen to Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Cholesterol Changes
Metabolic Syndrome
When to Get Help
Frequently Asked Questions
A high level of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream is associated with a host of complications, including cholesterol abnormalities. The linking factor: insulin resistance—when cells no longer respond appropriately to the hormoneinsulin. As a result, a person may develop an abnormal cholesterol profile—low high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good cholesterol”), high low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad cholesterol”), and high triglycerides.
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These cholesterol abnormalities then increase a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke. With this in mind, managing your pre-diabetes or diabetes is about more than just keeping your blood sugar in check. It’s also about working to protect your cardiovascular health.
Insulin Resistance and Cholesterol Changes
Insulin resistance is when the cells become less responsive to this process. As a result, blood sugar eventually increases, which is why it’s considered a precursor to pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Fats are also broken down within the body at an increased rate, and this ultimately leads to various cholesterol changes. Specifically, insulin resistance lowers HDL and raises triglycerides and LDL.
A low HDL level or a high LDL level paired with a high triglyceride level is linked to the buildup of plaque (fatty deposits) in the walls of arteries. This condition is calledatherosclerosisand it increases your risk of developing a heart attack and stroke.
False-High and False-Low Cholesterol Tests
Metabolic syndrome is not a specific disease or condition, even though its name suggests that. Rather, it’s a collection of circumstances that increase a person’s chances of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The National Cholesterol Education Program defines metabolic syndrome as having three or more of the following characteristics:
In order to treat metabolic syndrome and, specifically, prevent the development of type 2 diabetes and/or heart disease, the following is necessary:
When to See Your Heathcare Provider
If you haven’t gone in yet for your yearly health check-up, or if you are experiencing potential symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g., urinating a lot, feeling unusually thirsty, and/or having blurred vision), it’s important to make an appointment with your internist or family physician.
Most people with high blood sugar and insulin resistance have no symptoms, which is why regular screening with your healthcare provider is important.
Your healthcare provider can perform blood tests, such as afasting blood sugar testor ahemoglobin A1C test, to check for pre-diabetes and diabetes. He can also order alipid panelto check your blood cholesterol levels, in addition to checking your blood pressure and weight.
Based on your healthcare provider’s assessment and laboratory results, together you can come up with a plan to ultimately reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Symptoms and Complications of High Blood Sugar
A Word From Verywell
The take-home message here is that insulin resistance increases your risk for both high glucose levels and abnormal cholesterol levels, which then increases your risk for heart disease. So, whether you have one or more features of metabolic syndrome, are simply worried about your well-being, or perhaps missed your annual physical, be sure to see your healthcare provider. Easy and straightforward measurements and blood tests can help you get to the bottom of your health.
Frequently Asked QuestionsInsulin resistance lowers your HDL (“good”) cholesterol and increases your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.Yes, insulin resistance causes an increase in triglycerides, along with raising LDL cholesterol.In diabetes, the body doesn’t properly use the hormone insulin. Insulin controls how your body uses sugar and cholesterol. So while the main focus of diabetes management is generally blood sugar, cholesterol is often a problem, as well.
Insulin resistance lowers your HDL (“good”) cholesterol and increases your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.
Yes, insulin resistance causes an increase in triglycerides, along with raising LDL cholesterol.
In diabetes, the body doesn’t properly use the hormone insulin. Insulin controls how your body uses sugar and cholesterol. So while the main focus of diabetes management is generally blood sugar, cholesterol is often a problem, as well.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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American Heart Association.Cholesterol abnormalities and diabetes.
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