Low Magnesium levels are prevalent in diabetics with metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that often accompany each other. These conditions include being overweight or obese, high cholesterol and triglycerides, low levels of protective HDL-cholesterol, high blood pressure, pro-inflammatory, prone to developing a blood clot, and being resistant to insulin. The complex of these conditions makes a person prone to developing coronary heart disease and diabetes.

In this study 290 patients with type 2 diabetes were evaluated for any connection between having metabolic syndrome and low levels of magnesium. In diabetics with any of the following conditions magnesium levels were significantly reduced; high triglycerides, a large waist, and any level of protein in the urine (from microalbuminuria to clinical proteinuria). The study was published in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph. - Magnesium is frequently low in patients with diabetes. Magnesium is involved in hundreds of reactions throughout the body and a low level of magnesium can contribute to high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, kidney stones, gall stones, worsening asthma, depression, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, decreased protection for vision and hearing, decreased control of blood sugar, poor bone maintenance, and many other conditions.

Studies show it is not the caffeine which helps decrease the risk of developing diabetes but probably the polyphenols.