More than 68 million Americans have unhealthy levels of bad LDL cholesterol, which puts them at risk for everything from dementia and a lousy sex life to stroke and heart attack.

Now a study out of the Universite de Montreal indicates elevated LDL levels are linked to the potential development of Type 2 diabetes.

It turns out that LDL cholesterol over 70 mg/dL helps fuel body-wide inflammation and causes changes in metabolic activity within fat tissue. That, in turn, negatively affects how your body burns and uses carbohydrates and fats. These metabolic abnormalities can lead to diabetes.

This is one more reason to adopt a lifestyle plan that maintains a healthy LDL level or lowers it if it's already elevated. LongevityPlaybook.com lays out five steps for achieving healthy blood lipids (LDL and triglycerides):

1. Manage stress.

2. Maintain a healthy weight.

3. Get a good dose of physical activity most days (aiming for 150-300 minutes a week) and strength-building activity twice weekly.

4. Eat a plant-based diet with omega-3-rich salmon and fibrous vegetables, and ditch red and processed meats, excess saturated fats, and added sugars and syrups.

5. Establish a healthy sleep routine.

To jump start your battle to lower LDL cholesterol, talk to your doc about taking a statin. Combining that with lifestyle upgrades and a multivitamin/mineral (half, twice a day) can make your future healthier and happier.

However you do it, get your LDL below 70 mg/dL.