A total of 400 subjects were enrolled for the study: 200 subjects having diabetes mellitus without retinopathy acting as controls, and 200 subjects having diabetes mellitus with retinopathy acting as cases. Basic blood investigation (including FBS, PPBS, serum Mg and HbA1c) were done. Data was collected, correlated and analysed statistically using SPSS version 20. A statistically significant result was observed with the values of serum Mg p=0.00001 and HbA1c level p=0.00 (p<0.05), which were observed in different grades of diabetic retinopathy. Both fasting and postprandial blood sugars were higher in the subjects with DR as compared to the subjects with no DR. The values were statistically significant for FBS with p=0.001 (p<0.05), PPBS p=0.009 (p<0.05) and duration of diabetes mellitus p = 0.0006 (p<0.05). Serum magnesium and HbA1c were significantly correlated to severity of DR.

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy, HbA1c, Hypo-magnesemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus.

1. Shaikh MA, Gillani S, Dur-E-Yakta Frequency of diabetic retinopathy in patients after ten years of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2010;22:158–60. [PubMed]
2. Whiting, D. R., Guariguata, L., Weil, C., & Shaw, J.(2011). IDF diaebetes atlas: global estimates of the prevalence of diabetes for 2011 and 2030. Diabetes research and clinical practice, 94(3),311-321.
3. Resnikoff S et al. Global data on visual impairment in the year 2002. Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, 2004, 82: 844-851.
4. Zheng, Y., He, M., & Congdon, N., (2012). The worldwide epidemic of diabetic retinopathy. Indian journal of ophthalmology, 60(5),428-431.
5. International Diabetes Federation. www.idf.org accessed on 16^th October 2011.
6. Durlach J, Rayssiguier Y. Données nouvelles sur les relations entre magnésium et hydrates de carbone. Magnesium 1983;2: 192–224.
7. Nadler JL, Buchanan T, Natarajan R, Antonipillai I, Bergman R, Rude R. Magnesium deficiency produces insulin resistance and increased thromboxane synthesis. Hypertension 1993;21: 1024–9.
8. Futrakul N, Futrakul P. Renal microvascular and tubular injuries in type II diabetic nephropathy. Kidney Int. 2008;74:390–1. [PubMed]
9. Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Research Group. (1991). Early Treatment diabetic Retinopathy Study Design and baseline patient characteristics: ETDRS report number 7. Ophthalmology, 98(5), 741-756.
10. Kundu D, Osta M,Mandal T, Bandyopadhyay U, Ray D, Gautam D. Serum magnesium levels in patients with diabetic retinopathy. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2013 Jan-Jun; 4(1): 113–116. doi:  4103/0976-9668.107270.
11. Durak R, Gülen Y, Kurudirek M, Kaçal M. Determination of trace element levels in human blood serum from patients with type II diabetes using WDXRF technique: A comparative study. J Xray Sci Technol. 2010;18:111–20. [PubMed]
12. Pirat J. Diabetes mellitus and its degenerative complications A prospective study of 4400 patients observed between 1947 and 1963. Diabetes Care 1948; 1: 168-88.
13. Davis RF, Constable IJ, Nicol DJ. Associations of retinopathy and glycosylated haemoglobin in diabetes mellitus. Med J Aust 1980; 2 : 558-60.
14. Khaw Kay-Tee, Wareham N, Luben R, Bingham S, Oakes S, Welch A, Nicholas Day. Glycated haemoglobin, diabetes, and mortality in men inNorfolk cohort of European Prospective Investigation of Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Norfolk). BMJ 2003; 6; 322 (7277): 15.

Dr Nilesh Mohan