It is more likely that you will develop heart disease if you have diabetes. Therefore, you should have your cholesterol levels and triglycerides (a type of blood fat) checked annually. Knowing about cholesterol and the steps you can take to keep your levels in check is also helpful.   In order to measure your triglycerides, LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol, your doctor may suggest that you fast for 8 to 12 hours before the blood test. If you don't want to fast, you can have a test that shows your total cholesterol level.   Depending on the results of your non-fasting test, your doctor may recommend a lipid profile. Later on, you may need more tests to determine how well the treatment is working.