Evaluation of the Relationship Between Retinopathy and Serum Magnesium Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: Diabetic retinopathy, a severe complication of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, can lead to vision loss and blindness. Magnesium, a vital intracellular cation, plays a key role in insulin and glycaemic regulation. This study investigates the relationship between serum magnesium levels and diabetic retinopathy in T2DM patients. Methods: A total of 118 patients who visited the Family Medicine Clinic of a tertiary hospital, were included in the study. Routine diabetes follow-up examinations and tests (blood pressure measurement, complete blood count, blood biochemistry, electrolytes, HbA1c, cholesterol panel, urinalysis, urine protein/creatinine ratio) were conducted. Retinopathy presence was determined through ophthalmologist consultations, identifying proliferative and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Results: The mean age of patients was 57.1 (10.3) years, with an average diabetes duration of 5.8 ( 4.2) years. Hypomagnesemia was observed in 19.49% of patients. Proliferative retinopathy was present in 7.63%, and non-proliferative retinopathy rate was 15.25%. Diabetes regulation status was well in 59.32%, moderate in 27.97%, and poor in 12.71% of cases. HbA1c values were significantly higher in those with hypomagnesemia (8.73±1.69) compared to those with normal magnesium levels (7.59±1.57) (p<0.05). There was a significant link between retinopathy and T2DM regulation status (p=0.009) and between hypomagnesemia and retinopathy (p<0.001). Retinopathy was found in 43.48% of patients with magnesium deficiency compared to 14.74% without it. Proliferative retinopathy risk increased 6.3 times, and non-proliferative retinopathy risk increased 5.8 times with hypomagnesemia. Conclusion: The risk of developing retinopathy in patients with Type 2 DM increases with magnesium deficiency, and glycemic control is linked to both magnesium deficiency and retinopathy presence. It is concluded that magnesium supplementation may reduce the risk of retinopathy in DM patients with hypomagnesemia. “This study has been presented as an oral abstract in 17th Family Medicine Autumn School, 20-24 September 2023, Concorde Congress Center, Bafra, Cyprus.”