I am a 54 year old diabetic and have been told I also have high cholesterol. Do I need medication to lower my cholesterol?

Because diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, one should make every attempt to control the cholesterol levels. Combination of cholesterol and diabetes is bad news. There are drugs to decrease cholesterol levels, but the first choice of therapy is exercise and this is highly recommended. All diabetics should at least surf cyberspace and read about the foods which are good for diabetics. There is no need to see expensive dieticians to determine what you can eat- unless you cant read or do not have internet at home. If you have any questions about diet, speak to your doctor. To start, lower fat in your diet, walk everyday and do not smoke- that should take care of many of your health problems.