Serum Magnesium and Its Association with Glycemic Control and Microvascular / Macrovascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study from the Bundelkhand Region

Abstract

Background: Hypomagnesemia is frequent in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may aggravate insulin resistance and vascular injury; data from the Bundelkhand region are lacking.

Aims/Objectives: To determine serum magnesium levels in T2DM and their association with glycemic control and with microvascular and macrovascular complications.

Methodology: Hospital-based cross-sectional study of 250 consecutive patients with T2DM aged 30 years and above at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Jhansi (May 2025 to April 2026). Serum magnesium, HbA1c and blood glucose were estimated; complications were assessed by fundoscopy, urinary albumin, renal function tests and clinical examination. Chi-square tests, t-tests, Pearson correlation and multivariable logistic regression were applied.

Results: Hypomagnesemia (<1.6 mg/dL) was present in 61 patients (24.4%) and was associated with age, diabetes duration and body mass index (all p<0.001) but not sex. Serum magnesium correlated inversely with HbA1c (r=−0.378). Crude odds ratios for hypomagnesemia were 2.71 for retinopathy, 2.57 for nephropathy and 2.19 for neuropathy; after adjustment only nephropathy remained significant (aOR 1.99, 95% CI 1.01–3.94). Macrovascular associations were not significant.

Conclusions: Hypomagnesemia affected one-quarter of patients and was associated with poorer glycemic control and, independently, with diabetic nephropathy.