[Colestipol by hypercholesteremia in diabetics]

The study comprises 90 diabetic patients with hypercholesterolemia. They received colestipol, a basic anion exchange resin, which binds the bile acids in the intestinal tract and thus prevents its enterohepatic circulation. The constant regeneration of bile acids from cholesterol leads to a decrease of the cholesterol level. A significant reduction of the cholesterol level was achieved in 73 of 85 evaluated cases. The observed triglyceride levels showed a different behaviour. All other laboratory data, especially the blood-sugar level, remained unchanged under the treatment with colestipol. Colestipol was well tolerated and, due to its neutral taste, was readily taken by the patients. Only a few patients suffered from slight constipation which did not lead to discontinuation of the treatment.