A Study of Electrolyte Imbalance in Diabetic Patients at a Teritary Care Hospital in Kerala

Abstract

Introduction:   most of the diabetic patients will be having many complications and other co-morbidities. They often require multiple drugs for treatment. Diabetes mellitus itself, its complications and various medications all are related to development of electrolyte imbalance, which are often under-estimated or remain un-diagnosed.
Objectives:   to assess the pattern of electrolyte imbalance in diabetic patients
Method: This clinical study was done in the Department of general Medicine, Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla during 2016-17. Data were collected by random sampling from the first 100 adult diabetic patients with electrolyte imbalance, irrespective of their cause of admission.
Results: Total number of patients were 125, male were 89 and female were 36. Mean age was 61.18 years with standard deviation of ± 13.15 years (Range 38- 80 years). Among the patients, the mean duration of the diabetes mellitus was 10.06 years with standard deviation ± 7.05 years. Over all 73% of patients had some sort of electrolyte imbalance, irrespective of cause of admission. Hyponatraemia was the most common electrolyte imbalance in this study (75%), followed by hypomagnaesemia (35%), hypokalaemia (32%) and hyperkalaemia (13%). In 10% cases there were hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia and hypomagnaesemia.
Conclusion: it can be concluded that, electrolyte imbalance is common in diabetic patients. Serum electrolytes should be checked regularly in diabetic patients irrespective of their purpose of admission.