Biochemical risk markers for ischemic heart diseases in diabetic patients

Fasting blood samples were collected from 142 diabetics (57males, 85 females) included 10(7%) with type 1 and 132(93%) with type 2 diabetes, age ranged 10-80 with mean SD 51.7 12.2 years. They were attending AL-Waffa diabetic clinic in Mosul during the period from 1st November 2003 -1st April 2004. A control group of 115 apparently healthy non-diabetic volunteers (66females,49males ) ,age ranged 10-70 with mean SD 35.512.7 years were included for comparison. A statistical significant differences (p<0.05) were detected in fasting plasma glucose,glycated hemoglobin, serum totalcholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol between diabetics and the control group. The diabetic group had a mixed hyperlipidemia. They were more obese and had higher blood pressure than control group. Hypertensive diabetics seemed to have the highest risk within the diabetics themselves as they had their total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly higher than non hypertensive diabetics. Diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease generally had longer duration of Diabetes Mellitus than those diabetics with out ischemic heart disease . Tight control of blood pressure together with optimal glycemic control is mandatory in this group.