High cholesterol levels are dangerous by themselves, and it’s obligatory that if you’re diagnosed with total cholesterol of over 200mg/dl, that you make a sincere effort to lower your cholesterol to prevent atherosclerosis, heart disease and other chronic conditions related to high cholesterol levels. This is even truer, if you suffer from diabetes, as you are exposed to an even greater risk.

Here’s why: normally, with people who are not diabetic, but suffer from high cholesterol levels in the blood, cholesterol sticks to artery walls, builds up into plaque that narrows and hardens the arteries, causing atherosclerosis, where blood finds it difficult to flow to the heart and brain. However dangerous this condition may be, it’s even more risky with diabetics since, with diabetics there are fatty deposits in addition to cholesterol build up in the arteries a combination that aggravates the clogging of blood vessels, thus increasing the risk for diabetic to suffer heart attacks and strokes. Among diabetics, the risk for complete clogging of the arteries is greater. When this occurs, heart attacks and severe strokes cannot be avoided.

Statin drugs to lower cholesterol have been suggested as a treatment for diabetics to reduce cholesterol and lower the risk for atherosclerosis and heart attacks, but these drugs have some serious side effects, which should be taken into consideration, especially with diabetics.

According to the American Diabetes Association and the National Diabetes Education, there are certain guidelines regarding blood cholesterol levels designed specifically for diabetics. Normally, people with high cholesterol who are not diabetic should make sure their LDL cholesterol levels (the Lower density lipoprotein also known as the bad cholesterol that sticks to artery walls), are below 130mg/dl. If you’re diabetic this is not enough. In order to stay of the safe side you must keep your LDL cholesterol below 100mg/dl since you are in greater risk.

Especially if you’re diabetic, statin drugs can give immediate solution, but the side effects can have serious consequences on your health. The best and safest solution to keep your cholesterol at the desired level would be the natural alternative, using a low cholesterol diet, low in sugar, plenty of vitamins and minerals, regular exercise and meditation. In this way you will not only lower your cholesterol effectively and without side effects, if will also control your blood sugar level in the most optimal way.