Vol. 3, Issue 2, Part A (2019)

Background: Magnesium (Mg) plays an essential role in insulin sensitivity, vascular health, and the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Hypomagnesemia has been observed in patients with type 2 diabetes, but its correlation with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and nephropathy (DN) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of hypomagnesemia and its association with DR and DN in type 2 diabetes.
Materials and Methods: A total of 150 patients with type 2 diabetes, attending the Department of Biochemistry, Sambhram Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, over one year (from December 2018 to November 2019), were included in this cross-sectional study.
Results: Among the 150 patients, 40 (26.67%) were found to have hypomagnesemia. The prevalence was higher in male patients (62.5%) and those with longer diabetes duration. Hypomagnesemia was significantly associated with the presence of proliferative DR (30%) and macroalbuminuria (75%). The prevalence of hypomagnesemia was also higher in patients with poor glycemic control, indicated by HbA1c levels >7%.
Conclusion: Hypomagnesemia is prevalent in type 2 diabetes and is significantly associated with diabetic complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy. The findings suggest that magnesium deficiency may contribute to the progression of these complications, and magnesium supplementation could be beneficial for managing diabetes-related complications. Further research is warranted to establish its therapeutic role in diabetes care.