Checking your cholesterol (blood fats)

Cholesterol is important to reduce your risk of health complications. Find out more below. 

If you are at high risk of type 2 diabetes, your GP or practice nurse may suggest a cholesterol test, which is a blood test using a needle and a syringe or by pricking your finger, to check:

• your overall cholesterol level
• the amount of your “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL)
• the amount of your “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL)
• the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol (cholesterol: HDL ratio)
• other fatty substances (triglycerides) in your blood

Some labs also now report the non-HDL cholesterol level, which includes other parts of “bad” cholesterol known as IDL, VLDL and lipoprotein(a).

Risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD)

High levels of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose levels increase your risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes) because of narrowing and damage to blood vessels.

You can reduce this risk by getting your cholesterol levels, glucose levels (HbA1c) and blood pressure within the ideal range. Reducing LDL cholesterol, increasing HDL cholesterol and having a lower cholesterol: HDL ratio will lower your CVD risk.

Find out about what you can do to prevent developing high cholesterol levels.