Hyperlipidemia in non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Abstract EN

Background : Hyperlipidemia is a risk faetor of cardiovascular disease.

No data exists in Jordan regarding blood lipid level in diabetics.

Ob]ectives : To determine the prevalence of high plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels among non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and to study the effect of controlling blood sugar on the levels of plasma lipids.

Design and methods : A sample of 393 persons aged 30 years or more were selected from patients followed up at the endocrinology and general medicine clinics, ?lasma glucose, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides, blood pressure, height and weight were measured and a pre-tested structured questionnaire was administered by the doctor.

Results: The prevalence rates of h^rcholesterolemia (HC) and h^er^iglyceridemia (HT) in NIDDM were 34 % and 38 % respectively.

According to blood sugar control, HC and HT were found in 34 % and 38 % in patients with poor control of blood sugar, and in 32% and 35 % in patients with good blood sugar control.

€ombined hyperlipidemia (HC and HT) was higher among diabetics (19 %) than non-diabetics (? %).

Conclusions: In non diabetics, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia are highly prevalent with a pattern consistent with that of the United States and other developed countries.

Dietary habite and lifestyle of the people have to be investigated and may provide an explanation for our findings.

In diabetics, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and combined hyperlipidemia are markedly increased and good control of blood sugar does not significantly affect their levels.

Good control of blood sugar significantly affects the plasma level of LDL