A STUDY OF MUTUAL INTERPLAY OF MICRONUTRIENTS AND SPECTRUM OF DIABETIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Persistent uncontrolled hyperglycaemia in Diabetes Mellitus causes permanent structural and functional damage to tissues, which leads to micro and macro vascular complications causing increased mortality and morbidity. Magnesium and Calcium are required for Insulin secretion, Iron is essential for cell functioning and zinc forms the structure of insulin. 90 subjects were enlisted in the study after obtaining written informed consent and divided into 3 groups of pre-diabetic, diabetic and diabetic with micro and macro vascular complication. A brief history with relevant clinical examinations using monofilament test and ophthalmoscopic examination were done to evaluate for diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy respectively. Blood samples for serum zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron were collected and analysed with respect to age, gender and duration since diabetes was diagnosed. With increase in duration of diabetes and HbA1c, serum zinc, iron, and magnesium levels decreased, while calcium levels increased. Till date very few studies have been conducted to study micronutrients deficiency in pre-diabetics. Detection of micronutrients deficiency early in the course of diabetes, may delay the development of complications with their supplementation. Hence, this study is being done to study micronutrients in diabetics and pre-diabetic patients.