Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes–2006

Abstract

I recently encountered a discrepancy in the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA’s) recommendations regarding conventional versus SI units for HDL cholesterol (1). The article states “raise HDL cholesterol to >40 mg/dl (1.15 mmol/l).” Simple calculation shows that 40 mg/dl = 40 × 0.02586 mmol/l = 1.03 mmol/l, rather than 1.15 mmol/l. The same error is also noted in the 2005 version. Furthermore, in regard to the ADA’s recommendation to use statin therapy for diabetic patients without overt cardiovascular disease (CVD), the recommendation to treat “regardless of baseline LDL” might have extended beyond the evidence quoted. I …