A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY EVALUATING GLYCAEMIC CONTROL AND LIPID PROFILES IN DIABETIC PATIENTS FROM KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA.

Nokukhanya Thembane; Minenhle  Madlala

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i6.351

Authors

Nokukhanya Thembane Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa.
Minenhle Madlala Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i6.351

Keywords:

Type 2 diabetes, Lipid profile, Glycaemic control, Fasting glucose, Glycosylated haemoglobin (HBA1C), South Africa

Abstract

Background:

This study aimed to investigate the lipid profile of diabetic patients in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, a region with a high burden of diabetes. Dyslipidaemia is a common comorbidity in diabetes and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients.

Methodology:

A total of 160 serum sample data were analyzed from the laboratory information system, including 80 diabetic patients and 80 non-diabetic individuals as controls. Lipid profiles, fasting glucose, and glycosylated haemoglobin levels were measured and compared between the two groups. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and inferential statistics were used to compare means between groups.

Results:

The study found that diabetic patients in KZN had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and significantly lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, compared to non-diabetic individuals. The mean TC, TG, LDL, and HDL levels were 5.5 mmol/L, 2.5 mmol/L, 3.5 mmol/L, and 1.0 mmol/L, respectively, in diabetic patients, and 4.4 mmol/L, 1.4 mmol/L, 2.4 mmol/L, and 1.4 mmol/L, respectively, in non-diabetic individuals.

Conclusion:

The study underscores the importance of early detection and management of lipid abnormalities in diabetic patients in KZN to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The findings have implications for healthcare providers and policymakers in the region who are responsible for addressing the burden of diabetes and its complications.

Recommendation:

Further studies with larger sample sizes and in different regions of South Africa are needed to investigate the prevalence of dyslipidaemia and poor glycaemic control in diabetic patients. Such studies can inform the development of tailored interventions to improve cardiovascular outcomes in diabetic patients in South Africa and other regions of the world with a high burden of diabetes.

Author Biographies

Nokukhanya Thembane, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa.

Nokukhanya Thembane’s background is a board-certified Medical Laboratory Scientist with expertise in Clinical Pathology (Microbiology, Haematology, and Clinical Chemistry), and has extensive experience in medical education and community engagement in the field of Medical Laboratory Science and Medical Technology. Her passion for education and educating the next generation of Medical Laboratory Scientists as well as researchers is her contribution to the advancement of the field. Her research and supervision of research projects are directed at diagnostic medicine, pathogenesis, epidemiology, development of alternative treatment interventions, that can improve patient outcomes and advance our understanding of diseases.

Minenhle Madlala, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa.

Minenhle Madlala is a dedicated BHSC: MLS student at the Mangosuthu University of Technology with a strong interest in clinical pathology. As part of her fourth-year studies, she conducted research in this field and will now be responsible for monitoring diseases and treatments through the analysis of bodily fluids and tissues. This role requires a high level of analytical thinking and a clear understanding of medical laboratory science procedures, skills that Minenhle possesses. Her commitment and passion for clinical pathology are evident in her research project, which has the potential to make a significant contribution to the medical field upon her graduation.