Serum and erythrocyte magnesium levels in type I and type II diabetics.

Serum and red blood cell magnesium (RBC-Mg) concentrations of 195 type I and 111 type II diabetic outpatients with different degree of control and 40 control subjects have been evaluated using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In the total group, no significant difference in serum and RBC-Mg levels in type I and II diabetic outpatients could be found. However, poor control was often associated with lower serum magnesium levels. A negative correlation was found between serum magnesium levels and HbA1. A particular group of male patients with severe macroangiopathy showed high RBC-Mg levels; this finding was probably due to atherosclerotic and hypertensive renal involvement.