Abstract: Objective: To study the influence of post-prandial hypertriglyceridemia on atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: Ninety type 2 diabetics were enrolled in this study, and they were divided into three groups: group I (fasting blood triglyceride ≤1.7mmol/L, TG4h ≤2.0mmol/L), group Ⅱ(fasting blood triglyceride ≤1.7mmol/L, TG4h＞2.0mmol/L), and group Ⅲ(fasting blood triglyceride level ≥1.7mmol/L ). The levels of fasting blood glucose, blood glucose of two hours post-prandial（PBG2h）, fasting blood insulin, HbA1c, total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride(TG), HDL-cholesterol, whole blood viscosity, fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, and the levels of ESR, blood pressure（SBP）and diastolic blood pressure（DBP） were determined. The carotid color Doppler ultrasonography was applied in all the patients. Results: The carotid artery intima-media thickness(IMT), the rate of carotid artery plaque and of great vessel complications and carotid artery plaque scores in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were significantly higher than those in group Ⅰ. The IMT was not significantly different between groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ. Whole blood viscosity, fibrinogen, plasma viscosity and ESR in groups Ⅱand Ⅲ were significantly higher than those in group Ⅰ, whereas there were no significant differences between groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ. The levels of CRP and TNF-a were gradually increased in the three groups, which produced a significant difference among the three groups. PAI-1 and D-D of groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were significantly higher than those in group Ⅰ, but there were no differences between groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ. Conclusions: Postprandial hyperlipidemia is at the same risk of causing atherosclerosis as fasting hyperlipidemia, and it is at the same risk of enhancing the development of diabetic great vessel complications as fasting hyperlipidemia.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, non insulin-dependent, Postprandial hyperlipidemia, Ultrasonography, Doppler, color, Hemorheology