Hemoglobin A1 correlates with the ratio of low-to high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol in normal weight type II diabetics

Because cardiovascular risk correlates with serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and is inverse with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the LDL-HDL cholesterol ratio has been advocated as a sensitive index of relative cardiovascular risk. In 50 normal weight insulin-treated Type II diabetic subjects, mean LDL-HDL ratios were significantly higher than for controls. In diabetic women, the LDL-HDL cholesterol ratio correlated with hemoglobin A1 better than any of the lipids or lipoprotein cholesterol fractions. When 8 poorly controlled diabetics were treated with insulin, the LDL-HDL ratio changed more significantly than did its component fractions, and the fall in LDL-HDL ratio parelled the fall in hemoglobin A 1 .