Measurement of serum magnesium concentration in type 2 diabetic patients on glibenclamide and metformin therapy

Objectives: To measure serum magnesium concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes on glibenclamide, metformin or a combination of both drugs therapy in Mosul city. Patients and Methods: One hundred type 2 diabetic patients formed the patients group. Another group of 27 non diabetic healthy individuals involved in the study as a control group. The patients’ group was divided into 3 subgroups according to the type of the oral hypoglycemic agent used (metformin, glibenclamide, metformin plus glibenclamide). The study was conducted in Al Wafaa Diabetes Center in Mosul city, and departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine during the period from May 2009 to May 2010. Design of the study is case control. Quantitative analysis of magnesium and glucose in serum were done by using commercial kits. Results: The results showed a significant lower concentration of magnesium of the patients as compared with the controls and a significant higher serum glucose concentrations of the patients as compared with the controls. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that low magnesium status is common in type 2 diabetics who were on therapy with the hypoglycemic agents, metformin, glibenclamide or a combination of both drugs, in Mosul city.