Abstract
Background & Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the level of hyperkalemia in Saudi patients of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus, since the patients of diabetes mellitus with hyperkalemia are at a higher risk.
Methods: In the present study, 362 male and female known diabetic patients of Type 1 and Type 2 and 158 non diabetic control subjects visiting Al Iman General and Prince Salman hospitals of Riyadh were studied from October 2003 to August 2005. The diabetics were classified into Type 1 and Type 2 on the latest criteria laid down by the International expert committee on Diabetes Mellitus. None of the diabetics included in our study had shown signs of renal failure. Both types of diabetics were subdivided on the basis of their fasting plasma glucose levels (FPG) in three groups, group 1(7.1 -10.0) group 2 (10.1 -20.0) and group3 (>20.0) mmol /L and their serum potassium levels were estimated.
In the control and test groups the plasma glucose level (FPG) and the serum potassium level were measured after twelve hours of night fasting.
Results: Hyperkalemia was not detected in the group 1 diabetics of Type1 and females of Type 2. The group 2 diabetics of Type 1 and Type 2 showed serum potassium levels of 5.9+ 1.1 and 7.2 + 1.4 mmol /L (P <0.001). The serum potassium levels in the group 3 of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics carrying a FPG of > 20 mmol/L were 6.8 + 1.2 (r = 0.56) and 8.1+ 1.7 mmol/L (r = 0.68) P< 0.05.
Conclusion: It was observed that there is a strong association between hyperglycemia and hyperkalemia in Saudi diabetes mellitus patients of Type 1 and Type 2. The elderly uncontrolled diabetics are at a higher risk of hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia in uncontrolled diabetics can lead to kidney and liver damage and cardiac arrest. The physicians, while prescribing ACE inhibitors to diabetics, must take precautions to avoid complications of hyperkalemia.