Can high cholesterol cause diabetes?
Disease description:
Recently, during a physical examination, I was told that my cholesterol level was high. I'm a bit worried—could persistently high cholesterol lead to diabetes? A friend of mine has suffered a lot because of this condition.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
In general, high cholesterol does not directly cause diabetes.
High cholesterol is mainly associated with hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia. It is a condition of elevated blood lipids caused by excessive intake or insufficient consumption of cholesterol. Diabetes, on the other hand, is primarily caused by insufficient insulin secretion or insulin resistance, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. Since the two conditions have different underlying pathogenic mechanisms, high cholesterol does not directly lead to diabetes.
Although high cholesterol is not a direct cause of diabetes, attention should be given to dietary modifications, such as reducing intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, and engaging in appropriate physical activity. These measures can not only help lower cholesterol levels but also aid in the prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes onset. For individuals who already have high cholesterol or diabetes, managing these conditions can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
In daily life, patients should regularly monitor their cholesterol and blood glucose levels and promptly adjust their lifestyle to help reduce the occurrence of related complications.
