Copyright
©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Oct 16, 2014; 2(10): 488-496
Published online Oct 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i10.488
Published online Oct 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i10.488
Diabetes mellitus and electrolyte disorders
George Liamis, Evangelos Liberopoulos, Fotios Barkas, Moses Elisaf, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Stavrou Niarchou Avenue, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Author contributions: Liamis G, Liberopoulos E, Barkas F and Elisaf M contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: George Liamis, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Stavrou Niarchou Avenue, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. gliamis@cc.uoi.gr
Telephone: +30-26-51007509 Fax: +30-26-51007016
Received: December 25, 2013
Revised: July 24, 2014
Accepted: September 23, 2014
Published online: October 16, 2014
Processing time: 293 Days and 20.6 Hours
Revised: July 24, 2014
Accepted: September 23, 2014
Published online: October 16, 2014
Processing time: 293 Days and 20.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Diabetic patients frequently develop a constellation of electrolyte disorders. These patients are often potassium-, magnesium- and phosphate-depleted, especially in the context of diabetic ketoacidosis or nonketotic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome. Diabetes is linked to both hypo- and hyper-natremia, as well as to chronic hyperkalemia which may be due to hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism. This article provides an overview of the electrolyte disturbances occurring in diabetes and describes the underlying mechanisms. This insight should pave the way for pathophysiology-directed therapy, thus contributing to the avoidance of the several deleterious effects associated with electrolyte disorders and their treatment.