Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the Glycemic Risk Index (GRI) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and evaluate the clinical utility of GRI for early vascular risk assessment. METHODS: This retrospective study included 450 previously untreated patients with T2DM prior to hospitalization. We calculated GRI using CGM data and assessed CIMT with high-resolution ultrasound. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses assessed the association between GRI and CIMT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses evaluated GRI's predictive performance. RESULTS: There was a significant positive correlation between GRI and CIMT (r = 0.42, P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounders, GRI remained an independent predictor of CIMT thickening (OR = 7.226, 95% CI: 5.597-8.856, P < 0.001). ROC analysis revealed that GRI alone predicted abnormal CIMT with an AUC of 0.869. CONCLUSION: GRI is a robust marker for predicting CIMT thickening in T2DM patients, providing a novel approach for cardiovascular risk stratification. This study underscores the potential of integrating GRI into routine diabetes management to improve vascular outcomes.