INTRODUCTIONThis study explored the relationship between Glycosylated apolipoprotein A-1 (G-apoA1) and glycosylated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (G-LDL-C) levels and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).METHODSThis study included 3,098 patients with prediabetes and T2DM from two centers. Over a 3-year follow-up period, the study analyzed and assessed the risk of developing T2DM based on G-apoA1 and G-LDL-C levels.RESULTSIn patients with T2DM, the levels of G-apoA1 and G-LDL-C were significantly higher than in patients with prediabetes. G-apoA1 and G-LDL-C levels were positively correlated with insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IS). During the 3-year follow-up period, 197 patients with prediabetes progressed to T2DM. G-apoA1 and G-LDL-C levels were positively correlated with the risk of developing T2DM. Patients with the highest levels of G-apoA1 [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.452, 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI): 2.120-5.768, p < 0.001] and G-LDL-C (HR: 2.190, 95 % CI: 1.338-3.578, p = 0.002) had a significantly higher risk of developing T2DM compared to those in the lowest quartile.CONCLUSIONG-apoA1 and G-LDL-C levels are inversely related to pancreatic β-cell function, positively related to insulin resistance, and linked with an increased risk of developing T2DM.