Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Diabetes is often associated with complications and comorbidities. Osteoporosis (OP) is increasingly recognised as a significant comorbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of OP in postmenopausal women with T2DM and to assess the association between T2DM and bone mineral density (BMD).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 50 postmenopausal women with type T2DM and 50 age-matched non-diabetic women. Medical and lifestyle characteristics were recorded. BMD was measured in lumbar spine and femoral neck by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Results: Prevalence of OP in subjects with T2DM was 48%, whereas 30% of the non-diabetic subjects had OP (P=0.002). Patients with lumbar and/or hip osteoporosis were older (P=0.004), had a lower BMI (P<0.001) and had a longer duration of disease (P<0.001). BMD at the hip was positively correlated with BMI (P<0.001). Age (P=0.004), duration of diabetes (P<0.001), mean HbA1c levels (P=0.01), the presence of retinopathy (P=0.04) were negatively associated with BMD at the hip and lumbar spine. No correlation was found between BMD and presence of microalbuminuria, neuropathy, peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular event, and coronary artery disease.

Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with T2DM. The insufficiency of insulin and the decreased insulin sensitivity are important causes for OP in the patients with T2DM.