Triglyceride and high density lipoprotein metabolism in diabetes

Atherosclerosis is a major complication of diabetes. Hyperglycaemia, hypertension and dyslipidaemia are the major risk factors found in diabetes. This article reviews the metabolic disturbance which occurs in diabetes that leads to hypertriglyceridaemia and low high density lipoproteins (HDL) and discuss why this profile is atherogenic. Diabetes is a condition in which there is a deficiency of insulin. Absolute deficiency occurs when the beta cells in the pancreas have entirely lost their insulin secreting capacity but most patients with diabetes have some residual function and it is insulin resistance that tips the balance into diabetes when the insulin resistance cannot be overcome by a sufficient increase in insulin production.