Serum lipid profile and glycated hemoglobin status in Omani patients with type2 diabetes mellitus attending a primary care polyclinic

This is a cross-sectional study that was carried out from 1st September 2012 to 31st December 2012, at Ibri Polyclinic, Oman To assess the relationship between glycemic control (as reflected by glycated hemoglobin; HbA1c) and serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients attending a primary care polyclinic, Oman, and included 123 type 2 diabetic patients (64 males and 59 females). The mean +/-SD of age was 50.8 +/- 11.5 years for males and 54.3 +/- 10.1 years for females. During their regular visits to the clinic for clinical follow up, venous blood samples were collected from all subjects after at least 8 hours fasting. Blood specimens were collected into EDTA tubes for HbA1c and in Serum Separator Tube for fasting glucose (FSG) and lipid profile measurement. The data were evaluated by SPSS statistical package version 16. The results were analyzed using independent samples t-test (2-tailed), Pearson's correlation. There were no significant differences in the mean values of the different parameters between males and females except the significantly lower mean HbA1c and higher mean HDL-C in females. This may reflect better adherence to diabetic management by females as well as the known higher HDL-C in females due to gender effect particularly estrogen effect during reproductive age. Also, the glycemic state and lipid profile were better in those aged >50 year than those aged <50 year. Meanwhile, hypercholesterolemia was found in 45 (36.6%) patients, hypertriglyceriemia was found in 20 (16.3%) patients, decreased HDL-C was found in 29 (23.6%), and increased LDL-C was found in 58 (47.2%) patients, Forty-one (33.3%) patients had no abnormal lipid profile parameters, 25 (20.3%) patients had only one abnormal lipid profile parameters, 26 (21.1%) patients had two abnormal lipid profile parameters, and 31 (25.2%) patients had more than two abnormal lipid profile parameters. According to Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (DCCT/NGSP), 17 (25%) males out of 64 and 28 (41.6%) females out of 59 were dyslypidemic. Dyslipidemia was improved in many diabetics with better glycemic control as reflected by HbA1c. Hence, achieving the target of HbA1c will contribute in improving the lipid state, and hence may lessen the diabetic complications in type 2 diabetic patients.