Cholesterol and lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in Western Australian rural diabetics.

Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and non-HDL-cholesterol (non-HDL-C) were measured in the serum of diabetics from four country regions in Western Australia in order to document the levels and to examine the relationships between treatment mode, degree of diabetic control and lipid concentrations. In most age groups total cholesterol and non-HCL-C did not differ from levels in a large reference population, but HDL-C levels were generally lower. Male NIDDM patients on insulin had greater HDL-C levels than patients on oral hypoglycaemics, but their degree of control as determined by the level of glycosylated haemoglobin was poorer, and amongst female patients on insulin those with higher HDL-C levels had poorer control. These results confirm previous reports of higher HDL-C levels in patients on insulin, but are contrary to reports suggesting that better control is associated with higher HDL-C levels.