| Counsel patients about therapeutic lifestyle changes | Body weight control, regular physical activity, tobacco- use cessation, avoidance of high-carbohydrate foods, diet low in saturated fat and sugar | Patients with triglyceride levels above 1,000 mg per dL (11.30 mmol per L) should immediately start a very low-fat diet |
| Screen for metabolic syndrome | Constellation of increased abdominal circumference and low HDL-C levels, high triglyceride and blood sugar levels, and elevated blood pressure | Diagnosis and management remain controversial |
| Search for secondary causes | Nephrotic syndrome, diabetes, chronic renal failure, hypothyroidism, various medications | Optimizing glycemic control may improve hypertriglyceridemia |
| Search for acquired causes | Overweight and obesity, excessive alcohol intake, high carbohydrate intake, tobacco use | — |
| Determine cardiac risk profile | Determine cardiac risk factors, and stratify the patient's 10-year risk of coronary heart disease using Framingham risk calculators | — |