When you are living with diabetes your physician keeps check on your lipid levels in order to protect your vessels from damage and keep your cardiovascular system healthy. Lipid values that physicians look after are:

• Total cholesterol: normal value under 200 mg/dl
• LDL cholesterol (Known as bad cholesterol): normal value under 100 mg/dl
• HDL cholesterol (Known as good cholesterol): normal value above 40 mg/dl for men and above 50 mg/dl for women
• Triglycerides normal value under 150 mg/dl

If any of the above tests show abnormal values your risk for heart disease increases.

The following steps will help you in maintaining normal blood lipid values:

• Cut back on saturated fat found in fatty meat, whole fat dairy and cheese, ghee, butter, coconut and palm oil
• Stay away from foods that contain trans- fat (biscuits, crackers, cookies, fast food, fries, margarines)
• Include more soluble fiber in your diet (found in beans and legumes and oats, carrots)
• Cut down or preferably quit smoking
• Exercise regularly
• Take the medication prescribed by your physician