All diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia should be treated with:

There are choices for this question namely:

1. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors

2. Fibric acid derivatives

3. Nicotinic acid

4. Colestipol

The correct answer is "HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors". These are well-known as "statins". Statins work by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase which is the rate limiting step of cholesterol synthesis. Without the enzyme, cholesterol synthesis will be halted and cholesterol levels will be inhibited. While statins do not have a direct action in the blood sugar of diabetic patients, diabetes predisposes the patients to hyperlipidemia and eventually atherosclerosis.