Objectives: Controversy remains as to the effects of type 2 diabetes on bone metabolism. The aims of this study were to assess the association between type 2 diabetes and bone mineral density (BMD) and to evaluate the possible relationship between chronic diabetic complications and bone density.
Methods: Bone mineral densities at the lumbar spine, femur, and radius in 206 postmenopausal Turkish women with type 2 diabetes were evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and compared with those in 61 age-matched postmenopausal nondiabetic women. Medical and lifestyle characteristics, body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1c level, and status of microvascular and macrovascular diabetic complications were recorded. Frequency of osteoporosis and that of osteopenia as well as the relationship between microvascular and macrovascular complications and BMD were evaluated.
Results: The groups did not differ on BMDs and T scores at the hip, lumbar spine, and radius. Patients with radial and/or lumbar and/or hip osteoporosis had a longer duration of diabetes (P=.000), were older (P=.000), and had a lower BMI (P=.000). No correlation was found between osteopenia or osteoporosis and hemoglobin A1c level, presence of microalbuminuria, retinopathy, neuropathy, peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular event, and coronary artery disease. Among the three sites, BMD at the hip was positively correlated with BMI (P=.000) but negatively correlated with age (P=.000) and duration of diabetes (P=.000). Presence of microalbuminuria revealed a negative correlation with BMD at the femoral neck (P=.042).
Conclusion: There is no evidence that type 2 diabetes influenced BMD in our postmenopausal patient group.