BACKGROUNDDiabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. The morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes is a result of the myriad complications related to the disease. One of the most explored hypotheses to explain the onset of complications is hyperglycemia-induced increase in oxidative stress. Hypomagnesemia has also been correlated with both impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in non-diabetic elderly patients. Aim of the study was to know the role of hyperglycemia and hypomagnesemia in increasing the oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus.
METHODOLOGYThe study was conducted on 50 known diabetic patients at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), post prandial plasma glucose at 2 hours (PP2PG), and magnesium levels were measured using fully autoanalyzer and compared with healthy controls. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was estimated by NycoCard Reader. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were estimated in serum. The study population was divided into three groups based on the HbA1c values, i.e., Group I (HbA1c <7% -good control), Group II (HbA1c 7-9% -fair control), Group III (HbA1c >9% -Poor control).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe mean FPG and PP2PG levels were significantly increased in patients as compared to control group in this study. Our study showed that MDA levels increased as the levels of glycated hemoglobin increased. Mg levels showed fall as levels of HbA1c increased. Also, there is a significant positive correlation of MDA levels with HbA1c with P value < 0.01 and negative correlation with magnesium. To conclude, the data presented here suggests that diabetic patients are at increased risk of complications due to increased oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia and hypomagnesemia. Magnesium deficiency may play a role in insulin resistance and development of diabetic complications independently also.