BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is often associated with dyslipidemia, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and lipid profiles among newly diagnosed T2DM patients in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh between January 2022 and December 2023. Data on demographic factors, body mass index (BMI), blood glucose levels, and lipid profiles were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 483 patients were included in the study, with the majority (42.2%) aged between 55 and 64 years. The study population consisted of 64.2% females with a mean BMI of 30.31±5.41. High HbA1c levels were observed in 68.3% of patients. Significant associations were found between HbA1c levels and triglycerides (TG) (p<0.001) as well as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (p<0.001), whereas low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and total cholesterol (TC) showed no significant differences. Similarly, fasting blood glucose levels were associated with TG (p<0.001) and HDL-c (p=0.03) but not with TC or LDL-c. Regression analysis revealed that HDL-c was negatively correlated with HbA1c, whereas TG was positively correlated with HbA1c. No other parameter showed a significant correlation.

CONCLUSION

Poor glycemic control, as indicated by elevated HbA1c levels, is significantly associated with adverse lipid profile components, particularly higher TG levels and lower HDL-c.