Serum lipid levels in diabetic Papua New Guineans

We have investigated 78 type 2 diabetic patients (mean age 46.7 years and duration 4.6 years) and 59 non-diabetic controls (mean age 44.6 years) for their serum levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, glycosylated haemoglobin and glucose were significantly elevated in the diabetic patients. Amongst the diabetic subjects, 10 (13%) had hypercholesterolaemia, 19 (24%) hypertriglyceridaemia and 6 (8%) combined hyperlipidaemia. By comparison none of the controls had elevated lipid levels. There were no significant differences in the lipid concentrations of diabetic patients treated or not treated with insulin; both subgroups were similar in respect of age, body mass index (BMI) and glycaemic control. No significant correlations were observed between serum lipid levels and glycosylated haemoglobin, BMI, age or duration of diabetes. Our data suggest that diabetic patients from Papua New Guinea may probably be at an increased risk for developing macrovascular disease.