Study on Serum Magnesium Level in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Its Correlation with Diabetic Retinopathy and Nephropathy

A high prevalence of magnesium deficiency in found in diabetes. Magnesium deficiency has a negative impact on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in Type 2 diabetic patients as well as on the evolution of complication such as retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and arterial atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of hypomagnesemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its correlations with micro and macrovascular complications of diabetes – retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and ischemic heart disease. Patients with type 2 diabetes admitted in Chengalpaattu Medical Hospital, Chengalpattu over a period of one year between 1st September 2013 to 30th September 2014 formed the study population. The sample size was 100 patients. The study revealed that prevalence of hypomagnesemia in study subjects was 31%. Sex, age and duration of diabetes were not significant predictors of serum magnesium. Significant association was found between hypomagnesemia and diabetic retinopathy. Significant correlations were found neither with other diabetic microangiopathies nor with comorbitities such as ischemic heart disease and hypertension. Low serum magnesium concentrations are common in type 2 diabetics. Magnesium deficiency is conclusively associated with diabetic retinopathy