Concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in Zimbabwean diabetic patients
Gomo, Z.A.
East African Medical Journal 63(8): 550-556
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 3792243 Document Number: 272261
Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients and probably more so in non-insulin dependent diabetics. In this study the diabetic population consisted of 78 insulin-dependent chronic diabetics who had continuously used insulin for an average of 10 years; 50 insulin dependent diabetics who were on insulin therapy for less than 5 years, and 32 non-insulin dependent diabetics. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in non-insulin dependent diabetics (p < 0.001), while the same analyte was significantly higher in the insulin-dependent diabetics (p < 0.001) compared to controls. Furthermore, low density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly raised, as were the triglycerides and cholesterol in diabetics (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p > 0.05, respectively). Apolipoproteins A, A-I and A-II were, however, only significantly raised in insulin-dependent chronic diabetics (p < 0.001). The results point out that non-insulin dependent diabetics may be at higher risk of developing coronary heart disease than insulin dependent diabetics. The insensitivity of apolipoproteins to discriminate diabetic patients from controls may suggest that the study of the individual isoforms may be fruitful in understanding atherosclerosis. The study has demonstrated that the frequent analyses of lipid profiles may be useful in the management of diabetic patients.