SERUM MAGNESIUM LEVELS IN DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Objective: To determine the serum magnesium levels in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital Lahore, Six months from Nov 2014 to May 2015. Patients and Methods: A total of 50 cases of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus were included in the study. Serum magnesium levels, fasting blood sugar and HbA1c were recorded in all patients. Retinopathy was confirmed by direct Ophthalmoscopy. Results: In our study, out of 50 cases, 30% (n=15) were between 20-40 years of age while 70% (n=35) were between 41-65 years of age. Mean ± SD was calculated as 46.12 ± 7.76 years. Forty-six percent (n=23) were males and 54% (n=27) were females. Mean fasting blood sugar was calculated as 8.06 ± 0.49 mmol/L. Mean HbA1C was calculated as 7.11± 0.30 while mean serum magnesium levels were calculated as 1.15 ± 0.15 mg/dl. Conclusion: Mean magnesium levels in patients with diabetic retinopathy were significantly lower than the magnesium levels that were taken as the reference suggesting a possible role of hypomagnesaemia in increasing the risk of retinopathy amongst patients with diabetes.