Abstract 11: Should all subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus receive magnesium supplementation

Background: Deficiency of Mg may increase the incidence of diabetes mellitus and occurrence of diabetic complications. Aim: To evaluate an association between serum magnesium level, glycaemic status and diabetic complications in T2DM subjects in Punjab. Methods: Participants were 650 T2DM subjects who underwent clinical evaluation, relevant investigations including serum Mg levels. Hypomagnesemia was a Mg level below 1.8 mg/dL. Results: Mean age of the participants was 51.2 years, mean duration of diabetes 9.5 years and 53.6% were males. The mean HbA1c was 9.13 ±2.4%. 51.3% of the participants had hypomagnesemia. Hypomagnesemia was significantly associated with retinopathy, microalbuminuria, neuropathy and HbA1c but not with hypertension, BMI, CAD, Age, Sex and duration of diabetes. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Mg deficiency is common in subjects with T2DM in Punjab. Intracellular Mg regulates glucokinase, KATP channels and L-type Ca channels in pancreatic b-cells. Insulin receptor autophosphorylation is also dependent on intracellular Mg concentration. Hypomagnesemia in T2DM leads to reduced pancreatic b-cell activity and increases insulin resistance thereby resulting in poor glycaemic control and increased risk of complications. Dietary Mg supplementation for all patients with T2DM can be a simple and cost effective strategy to improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity and prevent long term complications.