Association of Magnesium Status with Poor Glycemic Control and Microangiopathic Complications (Neuropathy and Nephropathy) in Diabetic Patients in Dakar

Low serum magnesium level has been shown to be associated with diabetes mellitus and its complications. The objective of this study was to determine the magnesium status in our study population and its association with glycemic control and microangiopathic complications particularly neuropathy and nephropathy. This was a cross sectional and prospective study conducted among patients received as part of their follow-up at the Marc Sankale center of the Abass Ndao hospital in Dakar. For each patient, blood samples and 24h urine collection were performed. Hypomagnesemia was defined for Mg concentrations <17 mg/L and statistical analysis was performed using the XLSTAT 2018 software. A total of 106 diabetic patients were enrolled consisting of 93 type 2 diabetics and 13 type 1 diabetics. Eighty percent of patients had hypomagnesemia compared to 20% who had normal magnesium levels. We found a significantly higher mean HbA1c level in the group of hypomagnesemic patients compared to patients with normal magnesium levels (p = 0.02) and significant negative correlation between magnesium and HbA1c (r = - 0.20, p = 0.03). The frequencies of neuropathy and nephropathy were comparable between the two groups with respectively p = 0.12 and p = 0.28. Our study shows a high frequency of hypomagnesemia in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and a significant correlation of this hypomagnesemia with poor glycemic control. No association has been found between magnesium and the microangiopathic complications, but it nevertheless alerts clinicians to the possible need for magnesium supplementation in the management of diabetic patients.