Association between the level of glycosylated hemoglobin and serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by defect in insulin secretion and action resulting in hyperglycemia. Diabetic patients have deranged body metabolisms particularly for lipids which may result in abnormal levels of serum levels of lipids. Methods: The aim of this study is to find any possible correlation between the the glycosylated hemoglobin and the lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Duhok city. A total number of 235 patients with type 2 diabetes were included. Results: The mean age was 56.19 years, and females constituted 73.2%. The mean duration of diabetes was 101.30 months, and the mean level of HbA1c was 8.0297 %. About 58.30% had good glycemic control, 28.51 % had poor control, and 13.19% had excellent control. The mean level of the serum cholesterol was normal (180.63 mg/dl), and the mean level of serum triglycerides were elevated (188.46 mg/dl), the mean level of the LDL was elevated (102.07 mg/dl), and the mean HDL level was normal (47.30 mg/dl). There was a significant correlation between the mean level of HbA1c and LDL levels (P value 0.005) while the correlation was not significant for other types of serum lipids such as triglycerides, cholesterol, and HDL (P values 0.879, 0.091, and 0.253) respectively, Conclusion: Elevated glycosylated hemoglobin may be an indicator of derangement of the lipid metabolism and elevated levels of serum lipid profiles which indirectly may indicate high risk factor and as a predictor for increased risk of end stage vascular disease.