Pattern and Correlates of Hypomagnesemia Among Subset of Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Nowadays, there is an accumulated data about the relation between hypomagnesemia (low Serum Mg level < 0.7 mmol/l) and diabetes. Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of hypomagnesemia in a carefully diagnosed diabetes patients and to show how some factors could contribute to the prevalence of low serum Mg level among the population under study. Methods: In short, 62 patients of both type 1 and 2, who attended AL-Sadir medical city/ diabetes and endocrinology centre during the period of the study were included in the study. A detailed history was taken and participants were informed verbally about the procedure of this study. Serum magnesium and creatinine were measured using standardized methods. Results: The overall prevalence of the hypomagnesemia, among diabetic population involved in this study, was 29.03 % and it was nearly similar in male (29.41 %) and female (28.57 %). The means(SD) of serum Mg level were similar in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Other difference in prevalence among other characteristics has been reported. Within all participants, gender (r = -0.02), fasting blood glucose (r = -0.514) and metformin use (r = -0.014) were negatively correlated with serum Mg level, in contrast to other variables, which were positively correlated. While among type 1 DM, age (r= 0.193), serum creatinine (r= 0.031) and insulin use (r= 0.217) were positively correlated with serum Mg level. In contrast, others were negatively correlated. In type 2 DM, age (r = -0.283) and fasting blood glucose (r = -0.496) were negatively correlated with serum Mg level. On the other hand, other variables were positively correlated with serum Mg level. Conclusion: Hypomagnesemia prevalence was detected in nearly one-third of the diabetic population, which is quite high prevalence. Some factors have shown to play an essential role in this prevalence. A large study is warranted to address this issue.