Cholesterol

If you have diabetes, you have a higher risk of heart and blood vessel disease (cardiovascular disease). One way to limit this risk is to measure your cholesterol routinely and control it by changing your lifestyle or taking prescription drugs. A cholesterol test usually shows your total cholesterol, total triglycerides, and high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has set up a National Reference System for Cholesterol Testing and many manufacturers verify their test through certification with this method.