Measurement of Serum Magnesium Level in The Patients Suffering From Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a an endocrine disorder which is the result of chronic hyperglycemia, insulin deficiency and/or insulin resistance. It is estimated that there are 100 million people in the world who suffer from diabetes mellitus and this figure is likely to increase two-to three-fold in the next 10 years. It seems that magnesium contributes to pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Magnesium modulates glucose transport through the membranes and is a cofactor in several enzymatic systems involving glucose oxidation. Magnesium deficiency decreases insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. In this study, magnesium level was considered as a contributing factor in development of type 2 diabetes and its serum levels in the patients were measured. 111 patients out of type 2 diabetic patients referring to diabetes research center in Yazd, were selected randomly. Patients who had a history of renal failure,gastro-intestinal diseases, hyperparathyroiodism, and ingestion of Aminoglycosides, Amphotericin B, diuretics, magnesium-containing antiacids, laxatives were excluded from our study. In these subjects serum magnesium, level FBS, HbA1C, Cholesterol(Cho), Triglycerid(TG), serum calcium, systolic and diastolic blood pressure(BP) were measured. Mean serum magnesium level was 2.15±0.29 mg/dl which had a direct correlation with age, weight, height and systolic BP which was statistically significant (p=0.04, p=0.01, p=0.05). Like wise there was a reverse relationn between serum magnesium level and FBS, HbA1C, Cho, TG, but these correlations were not statistically significant. There were direct but insignificant statistic associations between diastolic BP, diabetes duration, serum calcium and phosphorus levels and serum magnesium. In this study mean magnesium level in type 2 diabetic patients was within normal range. Correlation between Serum magnesium level and glycemic control was not statistically significant. Considering that serum magnesium level is not indicative of total body magnesium, another study to measure intracellular magnesium in type 2 diabetic patients is suggested.