A study of serum magnesium level and its association with glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major public health problem associated with chronic hyperglycemia and multiple metabolic disturbances. Magnesium plays an important role in insulin action and glucose metabolism and hypomagnesemia is frequently observed in diabetic patients, potentially contributing to poor glycemic control. To estimate serum magnesium levels in patients with T2DM and to assess their association with glycemic control measured by HbA1c.

Methods: This hospital-based, single-centre, cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the General Medicine inpatient ward of a tertiary care hospital over 12 months. A total of 200 adults with T2DM were included after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Clinical details and laboratory parameters, including fasting and postprandial blood glucose, serum magnesium, HbA1c, urea and creatinine, were measured. Data were analysed using SPSS. Chi-square test and correlation analysis were applied, with p<0.05 considered significant.

Results: Hypomagnesemia (<1.8 mg/dl) was present in 68.0% of participants. The mean serum magnesium level was 1.46±0.58 mg/dL and mean HbA1c was 7.52±1.21%. A significant association was found between serum magnesium category and HbA1c group (Chi-square=7.85, p=0.010). Serum magnesium showed a significant negative correlation with HbA1c (r=−0.262, p=0.001).

Conclusions: Hypomagnesemia is common in T2DM and is significantly associated with poorer glycemic control. Routine monitoring and correction of magnesium deficiency may support better diabetes management.