Correlations between Glycosylated Hemoglobin and Lipid Profile in Newly- Diagnosed Type II Diabetics with and without Hypertension

Introduction: Type II diabetes is a chronic disease which results from aspects such as complex inheritance interaction, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle. In India, diabetes is turning into an epidemic as currently, 110 million individuals suffer from the disease. To our knowledge, very few studies have evaluated the correlation between lipid profiles and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in newly diagnosed type II diabetes and in diabetics with hypertension. The early detection of lipid abnormalities in these patients will help prevent the cardiovascular outcomes.

Objectives: To identify the correlation between HbA1c and lipid profiles among newly diagnosed type II diabetics and in Diabetics with hypertension, also among Prediabetics in Bengaluru (urban and rural) in Karnataka (South India); and to study the risk factors for developing dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving 424 Individuals in Bengaluru, India from January 2022 to September 2023. Demographics, lifestyle habits and clinical features were analyzed for the presence of any interrelationship with the occurrence of dyslipidemia. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s post hoc tests, Chi square and correlation studies were used to establish a significant level of association between the study parameters.

Results: Among healthy, prediabetics, Newly Diagnosed type 2 diabetics and type 2 diabetics with hypertension, there were significant differences in lipid profile parameters- total cholesterol l(TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), ratios of cholesterol to HDL(TC:HDL) and ratios of LDL to HDL(LDL:HDL). A strong correlation between HbA1c and lipid profiles was established.

Discussion: correlation of glycosylated hemoglobin with lipid profile components started to appear with the onset of prediabetes phase itself, increased in case of Diabetics and the maximum correlation was observed in case of diabetics with hypertension. As per our study, a sedentary lifestyle, consuming alcohol, smoking, overweight, abdominal obesity were identified as the risk factors for developing diabetes and eventually hypertension along with diabetes.

Conclusion: Periodic monitoring of various components of lipid profile at prediabetic phase itself, along with increased physical activity, weight control, healthy diet, cessation of alcohol and smoking prevents dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases hence reduces not only morbidity and mortality but also economic burden.