Although the treatment of hyperglycemia reduces the serum lipid level, moderately controlled diabetics are known to have dyslipidemia. To study the prevalence of hyperlipidemia in moderately well controlled NIDDM, serum lipid levels were measured in 680 NIDDM outpatients who visited 22 clinics in Fukuoka prefecture during the last week of January, 1993. Their mean hemoglobin Ai c level was 7.3±1.5%(SD). The prevalence of hyperlipidemia (total cholesterol>220mg/dl and/ or triglyceride>150mg/dl) was 52% when the patients treated with lipid-lowering drugs were included. Drugs, 74% of which were a HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, were given to 32% of the hyperlipidemics. Alcohol intake decreased the total cholesterol level, but more than 30g/day increased triglyceride levels.
In conclusion, 48% of NIDDMs under moderate glycemic control had hypercholesterolemia. Lipid lowering drugs were administrated to 32% of hyperlipidemics and reduced the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia to 32% of the total. Alcohol intake of less than 30 g/day may be allowed to reduce hyperlipidemia in these NIDDM patients.