INTRODUCTION: Postprandial lipemia characterized by a rise in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins after eating, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Among diabetic patients, postprandial lipemia is often overlooked once fasting lipid parameters are within target. The aim of the study is to determine the correlation of glycemic control and postprandial hyperglycemia with postprandial lipemia among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The result of the study may have important implications on how dyslipidemia should be completely addressed.

METHODOLOGY: A clinic-based retrospective chart review of 102 patients with recorded fasting and postprandial blood measurements was performed. Subjects included adult patients with type 2 DM whose fasting lipid parameters were controlled with diet and/or medications. Plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) were independent variables while triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were dependent variables. Pearson correlation was used to determine the strength of relationships among the variables mentioned. A p-value

RESULTS: Of the 102 patients, 52.9% and 47.1% were achieving their target HbA1C and twohour postprandial plasma glucose, respectively. The postprandial level of plasma glucose, mean triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL were 196.39 mg/dL, 189.06 mg/dL, 177.07 mg/dL, 122.40 mg/dL and 34.83 mg/dL, respectively. HbA1C has strong positive correlation with postprandial lipemia (Pearson's r=0.40) while the two-hour plasma glucose has moderate positive correlation (Pearson's r=0.34) with postprandial lipemia. Both relationships were considered significant (p-value <0.05).

CONCLUSION: A significant correlation of glycemic control and postprandial hyperglycemia with postprandial lipemia was observed. Our data suggest that despite achievement of optimal fasting lipid parameters, poor control of diabetes is positively correlated with abnormal elevation of postprandial triglyceride. Addressing both postprandial hyperglycemia and lipemia may improve cardiovascular outcome.