Serum Magnesium Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Patients and its Relation with Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetes mellitus (DM) refers to a group of common metabolic disorders that share the phenotype of hyperglycemia. Low magnesium status has repeatedly been demonstrated in patients with type 2 diabetes. Magnesium deficiency appears to have a negative impact on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. The present study was undertaken with an aim to correlate serum magnesium levels with diabetic nephropathy.

Total 100 patients with type 2 diabetes of 5 years of duration and above, admitted in Dr. Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation from November 2015 to April 2017 were included in the study.

The mean serum magnesium value in the normal group was 1.78, the microalbuminuria group was 1.61, and in macroalbuminuria, the group was 1.52.

One of the possible mechanisms explaining the relation between diabetic nephropathy and magnesium deficiency is insulin resistance. Deficiency of magnesium can reduce tyrosine-kinase activity, post-receptor activity and eventually it may contribute to the development of insulin resistance. Hypomagnesemia independently predicts the progression to ESRD in patients with advanced type 2 diabetic nephropathy.