SODIUM AND POTASSIUM LEVELS IN DIABETICS ATTENDING USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SOKOTO

Abstract

ABSTRACT Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease of great public health concern worldwide. The derangements in electrolytes have not been fully explored. Hence this study was aimed to determine the levels of serum sodium and potassium in diabetes mellitus patients. Thirty (30) diabetes mellitus patients and thirty (30) age and sex matched individual served as control. Fasting blood glucose was determined using trinder’s method while Serum levels of sodium and potassium were analyzed flame photometrically using corning 405/1797 flame photometer. Fasting blood glucose for diabetics was significantly higher compared with the non diabetics (P<0.05), Serum sodium and potassium were also significantly higher compared with the control. Hyponatremia and hypokalemia were the common electrolytes disturbance common in admitted diabetic patients of UDUTH, Sokoto.