Study of serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients attending KMCTH

The study was aimed at identifying the association between two major risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), namely, type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia has a ocumented causative relation with CAD, but the major risk associated with diabetes may be due to the associated hyperlipidemia. Lipid profiles of 30 patients with type 2 diabetes were taken and a detailed clinical workup done, including estimation of the body mass index (BMI). The study revealed that dyslipidemia is very common in type 2 diabetics and the most common abnormality seen was increased serum triglyceride levels (73.3%). The next common abnormality was decreased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and increased serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, both seen in 66.7% patients respectively. A high total serum cholesterol levels was seen in 46.7% patients. Forty percent of the patients examined were on the overweight side, 16.7% being overtly obese. Thus the study, despite having small number of patients, clearly shows the association between type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia, which may influence the mechanism by which type 2 diabetes is associated with increased CAD risk.