Study of Plasma Glycemic Levels and Serum Magnesium Levels in Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Non-Diabetic Healthy Controls: A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Patients of DM are known to have low levelsof serum magnesium levels as compared to non-diabetics.There is a link between the low magnesium levels and poorglycemic controls and subsequently leading to complicationsin diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to assess theserum magnesium levels in relation to glycemic status indiabetic patients as compared to non-diabetics.Material and Methods: 172 cases of previously diagnosedDM were taken along with the age and sex matched controlswho were healthy and non-diabetic and their blood sampleswere analyzed for magnesium and blood sugar fasting andpost prandial.Results: In our study we have found that there is a significanthypomagnesemia in diabetic cases as compared to nondiabetic controls which is in accordance with other studies.There also exists a negative correlation between mean serummagnesium levels (2.08 ± 0.4 mg/dL) and mean fastingplasma sugar (FBS) (159.72 ± 71.60 mg/dL) and mean postprandial sugar (PPS) (222.76 ± 100.86 mg/dL) levels. Nosignificant variation as per age and sex in serum magnesiumlevels amongst diabetic subjects have been found in our study.Conclusion: Hypomagnesemia is common in diabetics ashas been found in our study also, and it helps in regulationof glycemic levels and in turn also affects magnesium levels.Considering estimation of magnesium as a routine laboratorywork up protocol in the management of diabetes may preventvarious complications due to hypomagnesemia with earlytherapeutic intervention.