Remnant cholesterol (RC) is an emerging lipid parameter linked to cardiometabolic risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Insulin therapy is widely used in advanced diabetes management, but different insulin regimens may influence lipid metabolism differently. A cross-sectional study published in Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity compared RC levels and lipid profiles among individuals with T2DM receiving basal insulin or combined basal–prandial insulin therapy.

The study included 118 adults with T2DM treated at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital in Makassar, Indonesia. Participants received either basal insulin alone or a combined basal-prandial insulin regimen. Bivariate analysis using the Chi-square test evaluated associations between insulin regimens and RC levels. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors independently related to RC concentrations.

The results showed that the proportion of patients with normal RC levels was higher in the basal–prandial insulin group than in the basal insulin group (49.2% vs 30.5%; p = 0.039). Bivariate analysis indicated that insulin regimen type corresponded to differences in RC levels (OR 0.454; 95% CI 0.214-0.965). However, the relationship was not statistically significant after multivariable adjustment (p = 0.375), suggesting that other clinical factors contributed to the observed association.

Further analysis identified high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as an independent factor related to normal RC levels (OR 4.898; 95% CI 1.484-16.159; p = 0.009). The analysis also indicated that the duration of diabetes mellitus and body mass index (BMI) influenced the strength of the association between insulin regimen and RC levels. These findings highlight differences in lipid profile patterns across insulin regimens while emphasizing the role of broader metabolic factors in remnant cholesterol levels among individuals with T2DM.