Association between Serum Magnesium Levels and Glycemic Control (HbA1c) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Private Clinics in Baghdad City

Saja Hayder Shaheed Al Shammari, Ahmed Mubdir Naji and Haitham Mejbel Hasan

Abstract

Magnesium is important for insulin-mediated cellular glucose uptake and for many of the various enzymatic reactions that are involved with glucose metabolism. Hypomagnesemia is increasingly thought to be common among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to affect glycemic control adversely. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum magnesium levels among T2DM patients who were seen in private medical clinics in Baghdad, Iraq, and their relationship with the patients’ glycemic control as evaluated using HbA1c. A cross-sectional analytical study was performed from January to December 2024, at six clinics in Baghdad, enrolling 200 patients (type 2 diabetes mellitus). Serum magnesium was measured using an xylidyl blue colourimetric method, while HbA1c was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and binary logistic regression. The mean serum magnesium was 0.68 ± 0.12 mmol/L, with 112 (56%) of the patients having hypomagnesemia (<0.75 mmol/L). The mean HbA1c of the patients was 8.9 ± 1.6%. A significant inverse correlation was found between serum magnesium and HbA1c (r = −0.52, p < 0.001), with the level of serum magnesium in patients who were poorly controlled (HbA1c ≥ 9%) was 0.59±0.08 compared to those who were well controlled (0.81±0.07 mmol/L, p < 0.001). Patients with poorly controlled diabetes, who have had diabetes for >10 years, or who use insulin, are independent predictors of hypomagnesemia. Hypomagnesemia is prevalent in T2DM patients in Baghdad; hypomagnesemia is associated with poor glycemic control. Routine screening for serum magnesium and providing nutritional advice should be included in the overall management of patients with T2DM.