Study of Serum Magnesium levels in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of our study is to evaluate the possible association of serum magnesium in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. Study Design: Cross-sectional observational. Setting: Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. Period: September, 2018 to May, 2019. Material & Methods: A total of 258 subjects were enrolled in the study. They were divided in 3 groups, which comprised of 208 diabetic patients; 92 with retinopathy, 116 without retinopathy and the control group comprised of 50 healthy individuals. Both cases and controls were subjected to blood tests for the estimation of biochemical parameters. Results: A considerable decrease was observed in the serum magnesium level of diabetics in comparison with the healthy participants. The mean serum magnesium levels amongst the groups were 1.5 ± 0.2 mg/dl and 2.4 ± 0.3 mg/dl respectively (p<0.001). There was also a marked variation in serum levels of magnesium among diabetic retinopathy patients and diabetics without complications i.e.1.3±0.1 mg/dl and 1.69±0.1 mg/dl respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: Patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy displayed significantly lower serum magnesium levels in contrast to the control group and diabetics without retinopathy.