Evaluation of Magnesium and Potassium levels in Diabetic and Hypertensive subjects attending Federal Medical Centre, Keffi-Nigeria

Diabetes and hypertension are diseases that affect people all over the world. This study was carried out at the Department of Medical Out-Patient of Federal Medical Centre, Keffi. It was aimed at assessing the Magnesium (Mg) and Potassium (K) levels in the blood of diabetics and hypertensive patients respectively. Magnesium and Potassium were determined using test kits produced by Teco diagnostics (USA). Blood samples were collected by venous puncture from one hundred and twenty (120) patients evenly distributed among Diabetic and hypertensive patients on gender basis. The result showed a low level of magnesium in diabetic patients in a range of 0.40-0.00mmol/l to the expected magnesium concentration range of 1.3-2.5mmol/l. The potassium level in hypertensive was within the normal range of 3.25- 1.55mmol/l compared to the expected concentration range (3.40-5.30mmol/l). This study showed high level of deficiency of magnesium in diabetics but normal level of potassium in hypertensive individuals. Though, further studies using larger sample size is advocated to substantiate these findings, magnesium potassium aspartate should be included in the supplements or fortified foods from time to time to increase the amount of magnesium and potassium intake of patients. Importantly, Health care providers should consider monitoring serum magnesium levels periodically in patients especially the elderly to provide medical assistance where necessary.