Fasting plasma magnesium concentration and its relation to control in diabetic Nigerians

A study of the patterns of fasting plasma magnesium concentration in 92 Nigerians diabetics (comprising 68 non insulin dependent and 24 insulin dependent) and 30 healthy controls was undertaken. In all diabetics taken as a whole and in insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent diabetics considered separately, plasma magnesium concentrations were lower compared to healthy controls but these differences were not statistically significant. There were no significant differences in magnesium levels between male and female diabetics. No significant correlation was observed between fasting plasma magnesium and fasting plasma glucose concentrations. Furthermore plasma magnesium concentrations were not affected by the degree of blood glucose control. Plasma magnesium concentrations did not correlate with age and duration of diabetes. It is suggested that the observed lack of significant hypomagnesaemia even among poorly controlled diabetics may be a protective factor against the development of ischaemic heart disease and of retinopathy in black African diabetics.