The dyslipoproteinemias of diabetes

Atherosclerosis is the most frequent complication of diabetes. There are many potentially atherogenic factors in diabetes that may underlie this problem. Of these, one is the group of dyslipoproteinemias. In diabetes there are both qualitative and quantitative changes in the plasma lipoproteins. Based on pathophysiological and epidemiological data, these may be among the many factors that can result in early macrovascular disease. Furthermore, at least one of the dyslipoproteinemias--hypertriglyceridemia--is associated with insulin resistance and therefore could aggravate glucose intolerance. Thus, on theoretical grounds it is reasonable to postulate that treating the dyslipoproteinemias of diabetes would reduce atherosclerotic disease. However, to date there have been no intervention studies specifically designed to test this postulate in the diabetic population. One such study, the Diabetes Atherosclerosis Intervention Study, is currently in progress.