Relation between serum magnesium and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major global public health. Retinopathy is one of its serious complication and important cause of morbidity in diabetic patients. Serum magnesium is one of the essential micronutrients that have been linked both to insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. Diabetic patients are prone to hypomagnesemia due to the hypermagnesiuria. The aim of this study was to evaluate relationship between serum magnesium level and presence and severity of Retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients. A total of 178 diabetic patients were enrolled in this study. Fasting vein samples were taken from all patients for assessment of fasting blood sugar- HbA1C- lipid profiles- creatinin and magnesium. Urine was taken for assessment of microalbumin to creatinine ratio. Risk of cardiovascular disease was calculated by Framingham database. All these patients then referred to the ophthalmologist for the evaluation of probable Retinopathy. The correlation between serum indices like magnesium and Retinopathy was assessed. Overall 71.9% of the patients were females and 28.1% were males, 59 patients (33.1%) had Retinopathy. There was significant relation between retinopathy and duration of diabetes (P=<0.001), history of diabetic foot (p=0.006), presence of nephropathy (p=0.014), hypertension (P=0.0.19), increased patients age (P=0.049), HbA1c (P=0.001) and also cardiovascular risk score (P=0.004). There was not significant relationship between retinopathy and serum Magnesium level. No significant statistical relationship was found between serum magnesium level and occurrence of retinopathy in diabetic patients.