Serum electrolytes levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disease worldwide. Electrolyte played significant roles in the normal functioning of the body, and deregulation is indicative of different types of disease and electrolyte disturbances are often reported in type 2 DM (T2DM). AIM: The aim of the study was to estimate the levels of serum electrolytes in outpatients with T2DM and correlate serum electrolytes with random blood sugar (RBS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with T2DM visiting the outpatient Departments of Medicine, between April 2016 and March 2017 were included. Of 148 diagnosed T2DM cases, 74 were had RBS level >300mg/dL (group-1) and 74 had RBS level ≤300mg/dL (group-2). Serum sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-) levels were measured by using the Roche 9180 electrolyte analyzer. RESULTS: In this study, there was a significant decrease in serum Na+ levels in group 1 (131.83±4.36 mmol/L) compared to group 2 (134.15±4.90 mmol/L).The serum levels of K+ was found to be increased in group 1 (4.51±0.61 mmol/L) in comparison with group 2 (4.26±0.52 mmol/L). In group-1, an inverse relationship was present between serum Na+ (r=-0.342) and Cl- (r=-0.538) with RBS which was statistically significant. In group-2, a significant correlation was present between serum K+ and RBS (r=0.356, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed lower levels of Na+ and higher K+ levels in group-1 compared to group-2 subjects. This study showed that the distribution of serum Na+ and K+ levels is dependent on plasma glucose levels in patients with DM and also suggests that monitoring the electrolyte levels in hyperglycemia is pertinent in the management of diabetes.

Keywords

• diabetes mellitus
• hyperglycemia
• electrolyte
• na+
• k+
• blood sugar