Analysis of serum magnesium level in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background: Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is a common problem in diabetic patients. Hypomagnesemia increase the incidence of diabetes mellitus and occurrence of diabetic complications1 Diabetic peripheral neuropathy affects 50% of all diabetic patients. Patients with peripheral neuropathy are considered at risk of insensate foot ulcerations. At least half of foot ulcers, the end stage of such neuropathy should be preventable by early diagnosis and effective management. Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate serum magnesium levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and correlate it with complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus - glycemic control and foot ulcer. Materials and methods: This is a cross sectional study done in stanley Medical College and Hospital, serum magnesium level, fasting blood sugar were estimated by standard methods and compared in type 2 diabetic patients and controls. Result: Serum magnesium level in diabetic population was significantly low in comparison to controls .In particular diabetic patients with foot ulcer had the lowest level in serum magnesium. There was negative correlation between fasting blood sugar and serum magnesium in diabetic patients. Duration of diabetes and serum magnesium were inversely related. Conclusion: Hence it is concluded that the lower levels of serum magnesium may have a bearing on the complication and morbidity in patients of DM, and estimation of serum levels of magnesium may be helpful to monitor the severity of complications in diabetic patients.