ABSTRACT
Diabetes is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and disturbances of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. We aimed to estimate the cardiovascular risk factors and their correlation with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Zanzibar (Mnazi MMoja Hospital) hypothesizing that early detection and treatment of lipid abnormalities can minimize the risk for atherogenic cardiovascular disorders and cerebrovascular accident in patients with T2DM. Methods: The study populations were those patients who presented themselves at Mnazi Mmoja hospital with T2DM, and who are within the age bracket of 18 to 45 years. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) levels were evaluated. Pearson’s correlation studies were performed between the variables of blood glucose and serum lipid profiles and also within the lipid profile parameters Results: TC, TG, LDL-C mean levels were significantly higher in diabetics compared with the control subjects p< 0.05. The HDL-C was however lower in diabetics compared with the controls. Also, the mean FBG, TC, TG, and LDL-C were significantly higher in female diabetic subjects compared to the male counterparts p< 0.05. A positive correlation was observed between FBG and TC, TG and LDL-C (r=0.643 p=0.0021; r=0.679, p=0.0001; r=0.534, p=0.0091 respectively) while HDL-C showed a negative correlation (r= -0.799, p= 0.0021). TC also showed a positive correlation with TG and LDL-C (r=0.590, p=0.0021; r= 0.628, p=0.0001) and negative correlation with HDL-C ( r=-0.670, p=0.0041). Conclusion: There is an influence of gender on cardiovascular disease risk factors with more of the females seriously at risk. Measurement of serum lipid profile should be introduced to the management plan of diabetes mellitus. There is an urgent need for the establishment of regional and national training courses for diabetic educators and also the creation of new evidence-based management plan for diabetics in Zanzibar for a better healthcare.