ORIGINAL�ARTICLE

ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the correlation of plasma glucose levels with lipid profile in type 2 
Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).
Study Design: Case control study.

th 
Place & Duration of study: This study was conducted in Army Medical College Rawalpindi from 11

th
November 2014 to 11  November 2015. 
Materials & Methods: The number of participants comprised in the study was 120. The study population was 
divided into two groups A & B. 60 individuals were placed in each group.  Group A comprised of Type 2 diabetics 
and group B were healthy controls with no major illness. The patients were recruited from the Military 
Hospital's medical wards and Endocrinology outpatient department. The participants' blood samples were 
analyzed for Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profile (Total 
Cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol).Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by 
measuring the height and weight of men & women based on body fat.
Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. � �  
Results: FPG was (11.23±3.65 in diabetics vs 4.35±0.68 in controls), HbA1c was (6.84±0.482 vs 5.31±0.487).  
Serum total cholesterol was (4.68±0.96 vs 3.99±1.01 p<0.001), triglycerides (TG) were (2.42±1.22 vs 1.56±0.87 
p<0.001) and LDL-Cholesterol was (2.46±0.77 vs 2.17±0.72 p<0.05). These parameters were significantly raised 
then the controls. Whereas HDL-Cholesterol in the diabetics were relatively lower than the controls 
(1.04±0.224 vs 1.21±0.222 p<0.001). The diabetics Body mass index (BMI) was also significantly more than the 
controls (28.57±1.97 vs 24.46±2.32 p<0.001).
Conclusion: This study shows that serum FPG, HbA1c, Total Cholesterol, TG and LDL-Cholesterol are 
significantly increased in T2DM while HDL-Cholesterol levels are decreased significantly which might be the 
reason for high coronary heart diseases incidence in T2DM.

Key Words:Type2 Diabetes Mellitus,Dyslipidemia,Total Cholesterol,Triglycerides,LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-
Cholesterol

diabetes mellitus, T1DM previously called insulin 
dependent diabetes mellitus  (IDDM), occurs when 
insulin secretion is deficient and T2DM or non-insulin 
dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), occurring 
because of insulin resistance with or without insulin 

3
relative deficiency. “Chronic hyperglycemia causes 
structural and functional damage to blood vessels 
and tissues leading to complications such as diabetic 
n e u r o p a t h y,  n e p h r o p a t h y,  r e t i n o p a t h y,  
hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular 
diseases and atherosclerotic coronary heart 

4, 5
disease.”
Diabetes mellitus is a rapidly growing epidemic. 285 
million people were suffering from diabetes in year 
2010. This number is going to be 439 million 

6
worldwide in year 2030.  Similarly there is rise in 
coronary mortality in diabetic patients having 
dyslipidemia. Expected increase in deaths from 2000 

Introduction
“Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder 
characterized by hyperglycemia caused by defective 
insulin secretion, ineffective insulin function or both 
which leads to disturbance of carbohydrate, fat and 

1,2
protein metabolism.”  There are two major types of 

Dyslipidemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus 

Correspondence:
Dr. Mehnaz Khattak
Department of Pathology 
Foundation University Medical College
Islamabad
E-mail:mehnaz07@yahoo.com

1,3,4
Department of Pathology 

Foundation University Medical College
Islamabad
2
Department of Chemical Pathology

Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
Rawalpindi

Funding Source: NIL; Conflict of Interest: NIL
Received: Jan 31, 2018; Revised: Aug  29, 2018
Accepted: Sep 09, 2018

Dyslipidemia in T2DMJIIMC 2018 Vol. 13, No.3

1 2 3 4
Mehnaz Kha�ak, Asif Nawaz, Jawwad Anis Khan, Umme Farwa

128



21
this.  Marcello et al in their study explained that the 
lipoprotein abnormalities are mainly determined by 
increased production of ver y low density 
lipoproteins (VLDL) by the liver. The multiple 
mechanisms involved in this are increased FFA influx 
into the liver, reduction of inhibitory effects of insulin 
on VLDL production and enhanced de novo 
lipogenesis. All this leads to increased concentration 
of Apo-B-containing lipoproteins and abnormal 
function of HDL particle which may impair 
cholesterol removal from deposits. All these changes 

22
can lead to atherogenesis.
Apart from link of diabetic dyslipidemia and 
atherosclerosis, uncontrolled T2DM is itself a high 
risk factor for atherosclerosis as Selvin et al in 2010 in 
their community based study done on more than 
11,000 participants observed the tendency for 
increasing risk of stroke,  heart diseases and cardiac 

9,23
deaths. The current literature suggests to diagnose 
and treat dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetics at the 
earliest. It will help improve the quality of life and 
prevent the associated complications. The main 
objective of this study was to determine the 
correlation of plasma glucose levels with lipid profile 
in T2DM in our own population.

Material and Methods
This case control study was conducted in Army 

th
medical College Rawalpindi from 11  November 

th
2014 – 11  November 2015. A total of 120 
participants were included in the study. They were 
divided into group A & B. Group A included 60 
diagnosed patients (30 males & 30 females) with 
T2DM. Individuals with thyroid, Liver, Kidney, 
Adrenal disorders were excluded from the study. 
Group B included 60 healthy persons (30 males & 30 
females) free from any major illness. 
Under aseptic conditions five ml of fasting venous 
sample of at least 8-12hs was obtained from left 
median cubital vein. The blood was centrifuged for 5 
mins at 4000 rpm for serum separation.  Selectra E, a 
fully automated chemistry analyzer was used for the 
FPG and lipid profile measurement. To estimate the 
levels of HbA1c levels Ion exchange method was 
used.  Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by 
measuring the height and weight of men & women 
based on body fat.
Patient's selection was done from medical wards & 
Endocrinology Department of Military Hospital (MH) 
Rawalpindi using Non Probability convenient 

to 2030 would be 8-11 million worldwide and most of 
these patients would be diabetics.
Dyslipidemia association with atherosclerosis is well 
established. The progression of atherosclerosis in 
diabetes is mainly due to the associated 

7,9
hyperglycemia, obesity and insulin resistance.  
Excess free fatty acids (FFA) liberation from adipose 

10,12
tissue occurs in T2DM due to insulin resistance.  To 
a large extent lipoproteins hepatic metabolism is 
controlled by insulin. It has implications on lipid 
profile and increased role in coronary heart disease 

13, 14
development.
Atherosclerosis starts as inflammation of the blood 
vessels and in the presence of T2DM the process 
speeds up. In T2DM atherosclerosis and high blood 

15
glucose levels are related to each other.  All proteins 
glycosylation, like collagen linking arterial wall matrix 
proteins and collagen linking are caused by 
persistently raised blood glucose levels leading to 
endothelial cells dysfunction which further 
contributes to atherosclerosis. In T2DM there is 95% 

16
prevalence of dyslipidemia.  A large number of 
studies have shown a significant reduction in T2DM 
related complications and mortality rate due to 
coronary heart diseases if a normal glycemic control 
is maintained. Studies have shown that Langerhans 
beta cells apoptosis is not the only damage that high 
blood sugar levels causes but also leads to increased 
accumulation of oxidized LDL in pancreatic islets and 
coronary arteries thus increasing the risks of 

17
development of coronary heart disease.  A triad of 
increased levels TGs, LDL-Cholesterol and decreased 
levels of HDL-Cholesterol in diabetic patients is called 
diabetic dyslipidemia. The abnormalities of lipids in 
DM is mainly due to insulin resistance that affects the 

6, 9, 18, 19
enzymes and pathways in lipid metabolism.  
Several studies have proposed that in diabetic 
dyslipidemia the lipid particles composition is more 

9,20 
atherogenic than the other type of dyslipidemia.
WUL and Parhofer KG in their study showed that 
diabetes and increased cardiovascular risk of 
diabetic patients is linked mainly to the lipid changes. 
The increased concentration of FFA, alteration of 
insulin sensitive pathways and low grade 
inflammation being the pathophysiology, all these 
play an important role. The results being decreased 
catabolism and overproduction of intestinal and 
hepatic origin triglycerides rich lipoproteins. The 
observed changes in LDL and HDL are a sequence to 

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Table II. Shows significant increase in levels of BMI, 
FBG, HbA1C, total cholesterol and TG in the diabetic 
females as compared to controls while HDL 
cholesterol was significantly lower in the diabetic 
group. In females LDL cholesterol showed no 
significance may be due the small sample size

sampling technique. Sample size was calculated 
using WHO calculator.
This parametric data was entered and analyzed using 
SPSS version 20 and results of the test were subject 
to appropriate statistical analysis. Quantitative data 
was compared using independent t-test. The data 
was statistically considered significant with P-value 
of < 0·05. 

Results
120 individuals were selected for the study of which 
60 were diabetics and 60 were healthy individuals 
who were gender & age matched. Comparison of 
biochemical profile of different analytes in diabetic 
patients (Group A) and healthy controls (Group B) are 
summarized in table I. FPG levels (mean ± SD) in 
group A was 11.23±3.65 as compared to group B 
4.35±0.68, HbA1c was (6.84±0.482 group A vs 
5.31±0.487 group B) and in the lipid profile, serum 
total cholesterol was (4.68±0.96 group A vs 
3.99±1.01 group B p< 0.001), triglycerides (TG) were 
(2.42±1.22 group A vs 1.56±0.87 group B p< 0.001) 
and LDL cholesterol was (2.46±0.77 group A vs 
2.17±0.72 group B p< 0.05). Whereas HDL 
cholesterol was (1.04±0.224 group A vs 1.21±0.222 
group B p< 0.001). The BMI was raised significantly in 
group A than group B (28.57±1.97 vs 24.46±2.32 p< 
0.001).

Table I. Comparison of Biochemical Characteris�cs 

between Cases and Controls

Note: ***Significance at 0.001, 
**Significance at 0.01 level, *Significance at 0.05 level

Table II. Comparison of Biochemical Characteris�cs
between Cases and Controls in Females

Note: ***Significance at 0.001, 
**Significance at 0.01 level, *Significance at 0.05 level

Table III. Comparison Of Biochemical Characteris�cs 

between Cases and Controls In Males

Table III. Shows significant increase in levels of BMI, 
FBG, HbA1C, Total cholesterol, TG and LDL 
cholesterol in diabetic males as compared to controls 
while HDL cholesterol was lower in the diabetic 
males.

Note: ***Significance at 0.001, 
**Significance at 0.01 level, *Significance at 0.05 level

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regular exercise and use of lipid lowering drugs are 
recommended in these patients.
Limitations of our study was small sample size. 
Future work with larger sample size and of longer 
duration is recommended.

Conclusion
Based on the findings of current study it is concluded 
that serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL 
cholesterol levels are significantly raised in T2DM 
whereas serum HDL cholesterol levels are 
significantly decreased which might be the reason 
for high coronary disease incidence in T2DM.

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Discussion
Diabetes mellitus is a commonest systemic 
metabolic disorder. Prevalence of diabetes in 
Pakistan is very high ranging from 7.6-11% in its 
different regions. It is expected that number of 
diabetic patients may increase from 5.2 million in 
2000 to 13.9 million by the year 2030. Cardiovascular 
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The main observation of this study is increased 
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Cholesterol, Triglyceride and LDL-Cholesterol are 

23
higher in the diabetic group( p<0.001).  However 
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24
KN in 2014.  This is probably because of limited 
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25
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which in turn causes T2DM and both together leads 

2 6
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hypertriglyceridemia are the lipid abnormalities that 
occur in T2DM, which is the major cause of 
cardiovascular diseases. Blood glucose levels and 
lipid profile monitoring should be done routinely.  
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