Abstract

COMMON ELECTROLYTE DISORDERS IN DIABETIC PATIENTS ADMITTED IN GMC JAMMU

Chandan Sharma and Ashima Badyal*

ABSTRACT

Not many studies have been conducted on assessing Electrolyte Disorders (ED) among Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients. As electrolytes play a pivotal role in maintaining the homeostasis of the body, diabetic patients are more prone to develop electrolyte disturbances due to hyperglycaemia induced osmotic fluid shifts or by osmotic diuresis. To understand relation of ED with glucose control, this study was planned to identify the common electrolyte disturbances. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out in GMC Jammu over a period of 6 months on 200 patients, admitted in the department of Medicine, GMC Jammu and falling in the age group: 18 to 70 years. Out of the 200 subjects studied, 121 (60.5%) were having uncontrolled DM. They also had significantly longer hospital stay as well as a significantly longer duration of illness. The mean age of participants was 62 years, with the uncontrolled DM group being mostly hypertensive. The prevalence or frequency of hyponatremia among patients was 34%.The frequency of hypokalemia was at 16.53%, hyperkalemia at 5.78% and hypochloremia at 21.49%, however no association could be found between the occurrence of these and mortality. Hyponatremia, is a common feature among diabetic patients. There is great significance of maintaining electrolyte balance, specifically during diabetes mellitus leading to hospital stay.

Keywords: Electrolyte Imbalance, Diabetes Mellitus, Hyponatremia, Hypokalemia, Hypochloremia.