In a 20-year study published in the August 2010 issue of "Diabetes Care," Dr. Dae Jung Kim and colleagues reported that low magnesium intake was associated with an increase in the incidence of diabetes. Though increasing your magnesium intake may help prevent diabetes or reduce your diabetes symptoms, magnesium supplements may induce side effects. If you have a personal or family history of diabetes, talk with your medical provider about the side effects of magnesium before beginning treatment with this supplement.
Magnesium Deficiency
Health professionals with the American Diabetes Association recommend that people with diabetes have their blood magnesium levels evaluated on a regular basis, the Office of Dietary Supplements reports. If you are deficient in magnesium, you may develop symptoms that include weakness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or appetite loss. Unfortunately, these symptoms may also mimic symptoms associated with high blood sugar, making magnesium deficiency difficult to detect.
As your magnesium levels continue to decline, you may also experience seizures, heart rate abnormalities, numbness, muscle cramps or unusual changes in your personality. Consult your medical provider if you develop any of these medical issues, as these magnesium deficiency symptoms may also be signs that your blood sugar or insulin levels are not under control.
Magnesium Supplementation Adverse Effects
Treatment with a magnesium supplement may cause adverse side effects in people with or without diabetes. The most common adverse effects of magnesium supplementation include stomach problems, such as bloating, flatulence or diarrhea. Seek prompt care from your doctor if you experience more severe adverse effects, such as dizziness, flushing, nausea, vomiting, heart rate changes or fainting, Drugs.com advises. These more severe side effects may indicate that your blood magnesium levels are unusually high.
Medication Interactions
Talk with your physician about any medications you are currently taking before you begin treatment with magnesium supplements. Concomitant use of magnesium and certain medications for diabetes, such as glipizide or glyburide, may enhance the effects of these drugs, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Consequently, you may be at risk of developing unusually low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Additional medications that may interact with magnesium supplements include antibiotics, diuretics, hormone replacement therapy, antihypertensives, penicillamine, levothyroxine and alendronate.
Health Complications
Talk with your doctor about additional pre-existing health issues you have before beginning treatment with this supplement. If you have kidney disease in conjunction with diabetes, your doctor may need to adjust the amount of magnesium you take, or you may not be able to receive treatment with this supplement, Drugs.com explains. Additionally, treatment with magnesium supplements is not advisable for people who are allergic to magnesium or for women who are pregnant or nursing.
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