When was the last time I had a "lipid profile" done? What were the results and what did they mean? How often does my physician do such testing? This test measures the level of blood fats in your blood. People with diabetes are prone to higher levels of blood fats in their systems — which puts them at increased risk of heart and blood vessel disease. You should have these tests done at least once a year. Your levels of HDL (so-called good fats) should be greater than 45. Your levels of LDL (so-called bad fats) should be less than 100, and your triglyceride levels should be under 150. If you have heart or blood vessel disease, these levels may have to be even lower to prevent more problems. If your test results don't fall in these ranges, your physician should be referring you to a dietitian for help with lowering the overall fat content in your diet, and help in losing weight, if that is a problem. Improved blood sugar control may also improve your blood fat levels, so if your blood sugars are not under control, you will need to work on this. Your healthcare team should also encourage you to begin an exercise program — and should recommend an exercise tolerance test before you embark on an exercise program if you are over age 35 or have any diabetes complications. If you have any diabetes complications, your team should be referring you to an exercise specialist (usually an exercise physiologist). These are usually the first courses of treatment for a lipid problem. They may also prescribe lipid lowering medications, if you have found that these changes aren't having the desired effect.