Hi doctor, My age is 40 yrs/male. I'm non-smoker, non-drinker (only drink 1 beer in 3 or 4 months) and I have type 2 diabetes, recently I came to know that I have serum triglycerides very high @600. Even though I don't have any bad habits why I am suffering from these? What needs to be done to lower these levels? Please help me.

Dr. Nitin SahuEndocrinologist35yrs exp

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Hypertriglyceridemia refers to an elevated level of triglycerides (a type of lipid) in the bloodstream, a condition that increases the risk of coronary artery disease. The triglycerides found in our bloodstream are a mixture of triglycerides that have been obtained from the diet and those produced in the body to provide an energy source. Hypertriglyceridemia is often caused or worsened by factors such as obesity, poorly controlled diabetes and a sedentary lifestyle. A certain amount of triglycerides is required in the blood to serve as a source of energy, but when there is an excess, these fats increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and other health issues. Triglycerides themselves do not directly cause the fatty deposits that accumulate in atherosclerosis, but the cholesterol inside triglyceride-rich particles called very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs) may add to the formation of plaques. In many cases, people with hypertriglyceridemia have other lipid disorders or risk factors associated with heart disease and stroke, including obesity and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of risk factors that includes high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar, excess fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. After people eat, the body turns any calories that have not been used up into triglycerides and these are stored in fat cells. In between meals, certain hormones release triglycerides for energy and if people regularly consume more calories than they need to use up, they may develop a high blood triglyceride level. Whether or not a person?s triglyceride level falls within a healthy range can be ascertained using a simple blood test. A triglyceride level is considered normal if it is below 150 mg/dL, while borderline ranges from 150 to 199 mg/dL, high from 200 to 499 mg/dL and very high is 500 mg/dL or above. The level of triglycerides in our blood usually increases with age, but risk factors that increase the likelihood of the triglyceride level becoming too high include the following: Lifestyle: Overweight or obesity Excess alcohol intake Lack of physical activity Inherited disorders Pregnancy Type 2 diabetes Metabolic syndrome Medications: Thiazide diuretics Beta-blockers The most common reasons for hypertriglyceridemia developing are obesity, lack of physical activity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and familial hyperlipidemia, a genetic condition that causes high triglycerides and low levels of the ?good? cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein). In rare cases, people with a very high triglyceride level develop pancreatitis which causes severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and loss of appetite. Doctor may start you on lipaglyn which is very effective in controlling hypertriglyceridemia.  

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