Bone loss in diabetes: effects of metabolic state

The significance of different risk factors for the development of bone loss in diabetes mellitus was evaluated in a cross sectional study of 215 insulin treated diabetic outpatients. Bone mineral content in the forearms was measured by photon absorptiometry and the metabolic status was evaluated by three indices: residual B-cell function, insulin dosage and fasting blood glucose. The mean bone mineral content was reduced to 90.2% of sex- and age-matched normal mean values (P less than 0.001). Stratification of the patients showed that bone mineral content was 99.3% of that found in sex- and age matched normal subjects in the group with residual B-cell function, low insulin dosage and low fasting blood glucose; it was only 79.3% of normal in the group with no detectable insulin secretion, high insulin dosage and more severe hyperglycaemia. Thus, residual insulin secretion and the quality of metabolic control are major factors in determining bone mineral content in insulin treated diabetic patients.