Dyslipidemia refers to an imbalance in lipids, which includes either an excess or deficiency of lipoproteins. This condition can result in increased levels of total cholesterol, "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides, along with a reduction in "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the bloodstream. Dyslipidemia is often considered in various scenarios, particularly as a prevalent factor contributing to cardiovascular diseases. For adults with diabetes, it is advised to check LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels annually. Ideal LDL cholesterol levels for diabetic adults should be below 100 mg/dL (2.60 mmol/L), with HDL levels at 40 mg/dL (1.02 mmol/L) or higher, and triglycerides should be lower than 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L). The term dyslipidemia comes from the Greek roots "dys-" (bad), "lipos" (fat), and "-emia" (in the blood), essentially meaning disordered fat levels in the bloodstream.
