Diabetic bone risk

Structure defect found

PEOPLE with diabetes are more likely to suffer fractures because their bone structure is less resistant to breakage.

Bone fractures are an often overlooked side effect of diabetes that until now doctors have been unable to predict.

Diabetics often have good or higher than average bone density, which means their heightened fracture risk does not show up in the routinely used bone mineral density assessments, research shows.

Deakin University and Barwon Health researchers have found while diabetics have good bone density their bones’ honeycomb-like structure is poorer than average.

A new test developed by lead researcher Dr Kara Holloway determines a different parameter of bones than the widely used bone mineral density and provides more structural detail.

The research, published in Calcified Tissue International journal, uses data from Barwon Health’s Geelong Osteoporosis Study to identify a new bone measurement called the “trabecular bone score”.

“Where bone mineral density gives information about ‘how much’ bone a person has, it does not provide any detail about the structure,” Dr Holloway said.

“Bone has an intricate, honeycomb-like structure and this is what trabecular bone score indirectly investigates.”

Dr Holloway said this poorer honeycomb-like structure meant that the bone was less capable of resisting fracture.

“This measurement may therefore be a useful method of determining fracture risk in individuals with diabetes, which will improve management of the condition by their doctors,” she said.

Diabetes is Australia’s fastest rising chronic condition.