Electrolytes and sodium transport mechanism in diabetes mellitus.

The metabolic derangements and disturbances and their consequences in diabetes mellitus are well known more or less in details too. However, knowledge on the diabetic disorders in membrane functions and transport mechanisms is limited which is an essential factor in progression of the disease. Serum electrolytes were measured by flame photometer (Corning 410) and spectrophotometer (Spectro SC) in 60 diabetic patients with stable glycemic control (aged 38 +/- 2.5 years) and in 60 age-matched normal subjects with no known history of hyperglycemia as control. Erythrocytes were isolated from samples, washed and used for the estimation of sodium and potassium concentrations using flame photometer. Erythrocyte membranes were prepared for the estimation of Na+-K+-ATPase activity in terms of inorganic phosphate released/mg protein/hour. Na+-K+-ATPase activity, Intra-erythrocyte potassium and serum magnesium levels were significantly low in diabetic patients than in the controls. Serum and intra-erythrocyte sodium and serum potassium levels were increased significantly in patients as compared to control subjects. A significant effect of sex and interaction was observed on serum sodium, potassium and magnesium. A significant effect of sex, disease and interaction on red cell sodium, potassium and Na+-K+-ATPase activity was observed in male and female subjects. Na+-K+-ATPase dysfunction and changes in intra-erythrocyte and serum sodium, potassium and magnesium induced by diabetes may be implicated in the pathogenesis of neuropathy, nephropathy and vascular diseases in humans. It is suggested that male diabetic patients are at high risk of diabetic complications than females.