Lipid Profiles of Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients Attending the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

Abstract

Fifty subjects each were used to compare the lipid profiles of diabetes mellitus patients with non-diabetic patients attending the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Fasting blood samples collected into suitable anticoagulant tubes from both groups and the plasma was analyzed for fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid profiles. The FBS was done to confirm diabetes mellitus in conjunction with earlier findings from oral interview and or available historical records of the patients. The mean age of the diabetics, (Group A) was 55.30±9.30 years and their mean FBS was 11.21±2.65 mmol/L. In non-diabetics used as controls, the mean age was 46.36±7.66 years, while the mean FBS was 4.70±1.03 mmol/L. The result showed a significant increase in the total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). There was no significant decrease in the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL). It was therefore concluded that the TC, TG and LDL of diabetics were significantly higher than those of the non-diabetics. The HDL though lower in diabetics, was not significantly different from that of non-diabetics. This pattern of lipid profile in diabetics may therefore be a significant risk factor for the increased rate of cardiovascular problem in diabetics than normal patients.

Keywords:Diabetes mellitus, Lipids, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, Nigeria

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(3): 271-275, 2009