The Correlation of HbA1c with Serum Electrolytes among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Atbara, River Nile State, Sudan

Background: Diabetes mellitus in Sudan is a growing health problem that is associated with poor glycemic control in all socio-economic classes. This is a study that was conducted in Naserldeen Karamalla diabetic center located at Atabara River Nile state. Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum electrolytes in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: The present study was a Cross-sectional, descriptive hospital-based study. A total of 500 type 2 diabetics with ages ranging from 15 to 87 years volunteered to participate in this study. The glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and serum electrolyte & were measured with standard procedure. The statistical analysis was done by using SPSS version 20. Results: The mean HbA1c was 10.8±6.6 %. (96.6%) of the patients who had poor glycemic control (HbA1c >60.5) the mean Mg, Ca, Na, K, and Cl was 2.06±0.68, 9.1 ±3.7, 140.9 ±7.0, 3.9 ±0.41 and101.04 ±7.7 respectively. In this study, the correlation between Mg+2 and HbA1c was statistically insignificant (P. value =0.765) and between Ca 2+ and HbA1c was statistically insignificant (P. value = 0.586). Insignificant correlation between Na+ and HbA1c P value = 0.283). An inverse relation between HbA1C and K+ (P. value = 0.020). Conclusion: HbA1c and serum potassium were negatively correlated while sodium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride had an insignificant correlation.