Correlation of HbA1c with lipid profile in diabetic patients
1Dr Mukesh Kumar, 2Dr Muhammad Malook Bugti, 3Dr Abdul Mutalib, 4Dr Hina Jabeen, 5Dr Muhammad Parvez,
Submission: 31 January 2026 | Acceptance: 27 February 2026 | Publication: 25 March 2026
1 Khairpur Medical College Khairpur
2 Jhalawan Medical College
3Jahalawan Medical College Khuzdar
4Dow Medical College Karachi
5Wah Medical College
Abstract
Background
Chronic metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus are frequently linked to dyslipidemia, which greatly raises the risk of cardiovascular problems. A good indicator of long-term glycemic management is glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Comprehending the correlation between HbA1c and lipid profile can offer valuable perspectives on cardiovascular risk assessment and control for individuals with diabetes.
Objective
To ascertain the relationship between lipid profile characteristics and HbA1c levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods
From January 2025 to January 2026, at a tertiary care hospital carried out a cross-sectional analytical study. 150 type 2 diabetic individuals between the ages of 30 and 70 were enlisted. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C, and VLDL-C were measured in fasting blood samples. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), HbA1c levels were determined. The association between HbA1c and lipid markers was evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients, where p < 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.
Results
The subjects’ mean HbA1c was 8.2 ± 1.4%, and their average age was 52.4 ± 10.2 years. There were low HDL-C (38.7 ± 9.5 mg/dL) and elevated mean levels of total cholesterol (210.5 ± 38.7 mg/dL), triglycerides (185.6 ± 55.4 mg/dL), LDL-C (132.3 ± 31.2 mg/dL), and VLDL-C (37.1 ± 11.2 mg/dL). Total cholesterol (r=0.312, p=0.001), triglycerides (r=0.421, p<0.001), LDL-C (r=0.287, p=0.002), and VLDL-C (r=0.396, p<0.001) all had significant positive correlations with HbA1c, however HDL-C had a significant negative connection (r=-0.215, p=0.012).
Conclusion
In patients with type 2 diabetes, higher HbA1c levels were substantially linked to unfavourable lipid profile parameters. In order to lower cardiovascular risk, our results highlight the significance of combined glycemic and lipid control.
Keywords
HbA1c, lipid profile, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular risk