Increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or 'good cholesterol') may reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with diabetes, a study has found.
US scientists analysed data on 30,067 people with diabetes, all of whom had at least two HDL cholesterol tests between six and 24 months apart.
Seventeen per cent of patients recorded a decrease in HDL levels by at least 6.5mg per decilitre of blood.
Publishing their findings in the American Journal of Cardiology, the researchers revealed that these patients tended to be more likely to have heart attacks and strokes.
Patients whose HDL levels fell had 11 per cent more heart attacks and strokes than those whose HDL levels remained the same, while those whose HDL levels increased had eight per cent fewer such events.
Previous studies have shown that reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL or 'bad cholesterol') may help to reduce the risk of heart disease, but there is less evidence on the links between HDL and heart disease.
Co-author Dr Suma Vupputuri, from the Kaiser Permanente Centre for Health Research in Atlanta, said: 'This is promising news for patients with diabetes, who already have an increased risk for heart problems.
'Raising their good cholesterol may be one more way for these patients to reduce their risk.'
Dr Dermot Neely, from the cholesterol charity Heart UK, said that the study confirmed the importance of considering HDL levels in people with diabetes, even if their LDL levels are good.