I posted this in Heart Health by mistake, but I suspect that vitamin D may be involved with cholesterol whether you have diabetes or not.
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Low vitamin D raises diabetic heart risk
United Press International

08-24-09

ST. LOUIS, Aug 24, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Diabetics deficient in vitamin D can't process cholesterol so it builds in blood vessels, increasing heart attack and stroke risk, U.S. researchers said.

Principal investigator Dr. Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi, a Washington University endocrinologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, said when people are deficient in vitamin D the macrophage cells -- dispatched by the immune system in response to inflammation -- eat more cholesterol, which they can't get rid of.

"Vitamin D inhibits the uptake of cholesterol by cells called macrophages," Bernal-Mizrachi said in a statement. "The macrophages get clogged with cholesterol and become what scientists call foam cells, which are one of the earliest markers of atherosclerosis."

The researchers studied macrophage cells taken from people with and without diabetes, and with and without vitamin D deficiency. When vitamin D levels were low in the culture dish, macrophages from diabetic patients were much more likely to become foam cells.

The study, published in the journal Circulation, found vitamin D regulates signaling pathways linked both to uptake and to clearance of cholesterol in macrophages.

Vitamin D and diabetes: let the sunshine in.
Diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease.

Persons with diabetes are at greater risk for early cardiac mortality, and for repeat events if they survive their first cardiac event.

Recently, low serum concentrations of vitamin D have been associated with increased risk for cardiac events.
Evidence indicates that persons with diabetes have lower serum concentrations of vitamin D.
In addition, persons at risk for diabetes or metabolic syndrome have inadequate serum concentrations of vitamin D.
This review will assess the evidence relative to the impact of vitamin D in the development of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes complications. Studies that address vitamin D and its impact on metabolic outcomes as well as possible mechanisms of action are provided.
Finally, the assessment and suggested treatment for vitamin D deficiency is addressed.
Effective detection and treatment of inadequate vitamin D concentrations in persons with diabetes or those at risk for diabetes may be an easy and cost-effective therapy which could improve their long-term health outcomes as well as their quality of life.

Bear in mind the annual cost of an effective 5000iu/daily oil based gel cap is less than $15 or �10 code WAB666. $5 discount.
Annual tests to check your 25(OH)D remains above 50ng/ml cost $40 �24.

There are other benefits to having a vitamin d status of above 50ng 125nmol/l too many to detail here, but even if you can't tell the difference on you insulin response it's better to be on the safe side.