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Many studies have shown that people with diabetes have increased risks of heart disease and stroke, primarily because the prevalence of diabetes correlates strongly with elevated levels of cholesterol, which has been shown to cause both deadly conditions. Since diabetes is caused by an imbalance of insulin, and insulin levels are directly related to elevated blood sugar levels, can we then conclude that elevated blood sugar causes increased levels of cholesterol? Diabetes occurs when the body is no longer able to properly regulate the body’s natural fluctuations in blood sugar which are a part of normal metabolic processes. Dangerous spikes in blood sugar can result, as can equally dangerous low levels. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas which is the body’s tool for regulating blood sugar. Diabetes comes in two forms: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is a genetic, auto-immune disease in the body which prevents the pancreas from producing sufficient insulin levels. By contrast, Type 2 diabetes is an acquired condition affecting nearly 30 million Americans today which correlates very strongly with obesity, lack of adequate exercise, and poor dietary habits. Although widely vilified in the press, cholesterol is actually a critical biomolecule which is essential to your body’s good health – in moderate levels that is. One of the most important functions of cholesterol is to form bile, a complex liquid produced by the liver and gallbladder and responsible for the digestion and absorption of lipids and several vitamins. As with most factors related to health, balance is the key. HDL and LDL are the two types of cholesterol, each playing a slightly different role in the body. The LDL type is the so-called “bad” cholesterol, while HDL cholesterol is actually good for our health. When there’s too much LDL cholesterol, these molecules clog our arteries and can produce deadly effects. LDL cholesterol accumulates plaques in arteries and also lowers the HDL cholesterol levels. HDL removes plaques. It is LDL cholesterol that leads to heart attacks and strokes. Although the body can synthesize cholesterol directly, the vast majority of the cholesterol in our bodies arises from absorption into the bloodstream from food. The direct physiological links between blood sugar and cholesterol in the body are actually quite weak, yet these two health risk factors correlate very strongly with each other. Why? Both are heavily impacted by diet, as all sugar in the body comes from the foods we eat, as does the overwhelming majority of the cholesterol. And levels of both are also strongly impacted by the level of physical activity we undertake. Those who are obese usually suffer from BOTH high blood sugar AND high levels of cholesterol. It is suggested by doctors that we get the sugar levels in our bodies checked regularly – at least once in a year. Also cholesterol levels should be checked on half yearly basis. There are many medications available in market that offer low levels of LDL. There are fewer pharmacological options for treating high blood sugar levels, but changes in diet, particularly adopting fiber-rich diets, can help to address both health risk factors at the same time. Following a regular exercise regimen is also essential. So while there are no directly biological links between blood sugar and cholesterol, from the standpoint of taking positive action to keep these health risk factors under control these might as well be. Balance to your diet, exercise, and lifestyle are always the key.
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