Magnesium is an important component of many unprocessed foods, such as whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables, and it is largely lost during the processing of some foods. Many believe that the magnesium intake in many industrialized countries is less than ideal. Hypomagnesemia and magnesium deficiency is a common feature in patients with type 2 diabetes. Although diabetes can induce hypomagnesemia, magnesium deficiency has also been suggested as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Magnesium is a cofactor for several enzymes involved the regulation of glucose metabolism. Some short-term metabolic studies suggest that magnesium supplementation has a beneficial effect on insulin action and glucose metabolism.