Disturbances in Serum Electrolytes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
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Abstract
Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a multi-factorial disease having widespread effect on various functions of body. Electrolyte
imbalance is a major problem presenting in diabetic patients due to direct effect of hyperglycemia on these electrolytes.
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the electrolyte imbalance in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.
Methods: It is a prospective study, conducted at Department of Pathology, Indus Medical College. Tando Muhammad Khan between the periods of January 2018 to March 2018. A total of 290 patients were included in this study. Group A contains 140 known diabetic patients and Group B contains 150 normal healthy individuals. Blood samples of all patients were evaluated for HbA1c, serum sodium (Na), potassium (K) and chloride (Cl).
Results: A total of 290 patients were included in the study. Male to female ratio was higher in both diabetic and control groups. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) was found to be higher in diabetic patients as compared to normal healthy individuals with statistically significant difference (p< 0.001). Sodium (Na) was found to be low in diabetic group as compared to normal healthy individuals with statistically significant difference (p = 0.02). Potassium (K) and chloride (Cl) did not show any difference in diabetic group and normal healthy individuals.
Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus has wide diversity of effects on major functions and cellular events. Electrolyte imbalance is a major problem in diabetic patients as disturbs the distribution of cells across the cellular compartments.
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