Abstract
Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a major global health challenge, with cardiovascular disease (CVD) being its most significant complication. Dyslipidemia, a common co-morbidity in T2DM, is a primary driver of this CVD risk. While Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) is the established marker for long-term glycemic control, its specific relationship with various lipid parameters, particularly atherogenic particles like Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), needs further exploration to improve risk assessment.
Objective: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between HbA1c levels and lipid profile parameters in patients with T2DM and to compare these profiles between pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals.
Methods: This observational cross-sectional study analyzed data from 100 individuals, categorized as pre-diabetic (n=22) or diabetic (n=78) based on HbA1c levels. Spearman’s correlation and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to evaluate the relationship between HbA1c and lipid parameters.
Results: The diabetic group showed significantly elevated VLDL levels compared to the pre- diabetic group (p=0.015). Correlation analysis across all participants confirmed a significant positive correlation between HbA1c and both VLDL (rs=.253, p=.011) and triglycerides (rs=.232, p=.020), and a significant negative correlation with HDL (rs=-.254, p=.011). No significant correlations were found with LDL or total cholesterol.
Conclusion: The progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes is specifically marked by a significant increase in VLDL, highlighting its role as a sensitive marker for diabetic dyslipidemia. This finding suggests that cardiovascular risk assessment in T2DM should prioritize triglyceride-rich lipoproteins like VLDL, in addition to standard cholesterol panels. HbA1c serves as a valuable indicator for both glycemic control and this atherogenic lipid pattern.