Diabetes and hyperlipidemia: A direct quantitative analysis —A direct analysis of the effects of insulin resistance on lipid levels in relation to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease

Introduction: Diabetes and hyperlipidemia are two major factors involved in cardiovascular disease. The medical treatment and reduction of the effects of these conditions are key modalities in the prevention of heart disease. The term diabetic dyslipidemia supports the hypothesis that insulin resistance is a potential cause of dyslipidemia. This research study is one of the few that attempts to quantify a direct relationship between insulin resistant states and dyslipidemias. Methods: Data was collected by a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with either glucose intolerance or diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Lipid levels and either glucose, in the glucose intolerant patients, or hemoglobin A1c values, in the diabetic patients, were recorded. The data used in our study compared changes over a 6 month period in either glucose or hemoglobin A1c with changes in total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides during that same time period. Results: A positive relationship was seen with both change over time in glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels with that of all components of the lipid panel. The strongest relationship was seen with comparisons involving triglycerides. Discussion: Our results show that there is a statistically significant relationship between patients with either glucose intolerance or diabetes and the different components of a lipid panel. Our research helps to reinforce the necessity to be vigilant in the treatment of both diabetes and hyperli-pidemia in regard to the prevention of heart disease. It is also one of the few studies that provides statistical evidence to such relationships.