Investigation of Blood Mineral Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Non-Nephopathy

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar as a result of decreased insulin secretion from the pancreas or the development of insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. Complications due to glucotoxicity develop in many tissues, especially kidney and eye, due to high blood sugar. Minerals are essential nutritional components for the basic structure and functions of the body. The most important are calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium and chlorine. Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of chronic renal failure in our country and in the world. Depending on diabetic nephropathy, changes in blood mineral levels that can cause morbidity and even mortality are observed. Therefore, the determination of blood mineral levels in T2DM patients with normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is worth investigating. In the study, the files of the patients who applied to the internal medicine outpatient clinic of our hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The cases were divided into 2 groups as T2DM diagnosis and control group. 102 patients (44 females, 51 males) diagnosed with T2DM and 95 healthy cases (48 females, 54 males) were included in the study. In the group with T2DM diagnosis, sodium level 139 (136-141) mEq/L, potassium 4.8 (4.6-5.1) mEq/L, chlorine 99 (96-100.7) mEq/L, calcium 9.4 (9.1- 9.7) mg/dL, phosphorus 4.1 (3.9-4.3) mg/dL, magnesium 1.4 (1.3-1.6) mg/dL. In the control group, sodium level is 140 (138-142) mEq/L, potassium 3.8 (3.6-3.98) mEq/L, chlorine 98 (96.7-100) mEq/L, calcium 8.8 (8.6-9) mg/dL, phosphorus 3.2 (2.9-3.6) mg/dL, magnesium 2 (1.9-2.2) mg/dL. There was a statistically significant difference between the calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium levels of both groups. Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most important complications of T2DM. Defects in mineral levels occur secondary to nephropathy. In this study, differences were found in the significant phosphorus, potassium and magnesium levels of patients with T2DM with normal GFR levels compared to the control group. This result shows that even before the development of diabetes-related nephropathy, changes in blood mineral levels begin compared to healthy individuals.