Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors

Abstract

The risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is multifactorial and includes such risk factors as diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and dyslipidemia. Thus, targeting the hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) alone will not eliminate all of the excess cardiovascular risk; rather aggressive treatment is needed for all of the modifiable cardiometabolic risk factors. Therapeutic lifestyle change is considered primary therapy for hyperglycemia in type 2 DM. Currently, however, the focus in treatment is on preventing CVD rather than controlling glucose, lipid, or blood pressure (BP) levels. The American Diabetes Association guidelines identify low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as the first priority of lipid lowering, with optimal level set at <100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L). To reach the target BP level of <130/85 mm Hg, >65% of patients with DM and hypertension will require 2 or more different antihypertensive drugs. Strategies that combine thiazolidinediones and statins may have complementary effects on cardiovascular risk-factor profiles in type 2 DM, in addition to controlling glycemia. Despite the range of treatment options available, therapeutic agents that target new steps in the progression of CVD are needed, as patients with type 2 DM remain at increased risk and many do not achieve therapeutic targets with the drugs available.