Thin bones persist in young women with type 1 diabetes
October 1st, 2008
Young women with type 1 diabetes have thinner bones than those without the condition and this weakness persists over time, researchers say.
The team measured the bone density of 63 women with type 1 diabetes and 85 without the disease, using an imaging method that measures the thickness of bone using X-rays (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry).
They found that women older than 20 years of age with type 1 diabetes had lower bone density at their hip and part of their thigh bone than other women of the same age, both at the beginning of the study and two years later.
The investigators, who were led by Dr Lucy Mastrandrea from the University of Buffalo in New York, USA, believe the findings help explain why postmenopausal women with type 1 diabetes sustain hip fractures more often than other women.
The diabetes consultants at London Medical, will consider the use of an early bone densitometry measurement in women with Type 1 diabetes who may have additional risk factors for early osteoporosis.
For more information about our osteoporosis and bone density measurement service please click here.
