What is a normal triglyceride level, and what should be my goal?
Triglyceride concentrations are currently rated as follows: Desirable/normal: Less than 150 mg/dl Borderline high: 150-199 mg/dl High: 200-499 mg/dl Very high: 500 mg/dl or greater In the normal fasting state, the triglyceride level is around 100 to 150 mg/dl or less, but it will rise to 300 mg/dl or more just after a meal. In patients with type 2 diabetes, triglycerides are frequently elevated both in the fasting state and even more so after eating. It is important to be fasting overnight (preferably for 12 hours) when your blood is drawn for a lipid panel that includes triglyceride testing. You should also abstain from all alcoholic beverages for 24 hours before this test. Just as with LDL cholesterol, the lower the triglyceride level the better. Most clinicians prefer that patients with type 2 diabetes keep their triglyceride level at or below 150 mg/dl to minimize their cardiovascular risk. It is not unusual for some people with type 2 diabetes to have triglycerides over 400 or eve
