Elderly diabetics more at risk of bone fractures

	Tweet

People in their 70s have a more than 60 percent higher risk of fractures if they also have Type-2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, according to new study findings.

“Many adults with type 2 diabetes are overweight and people often think that fractures are only a problem for thin or frail older adults,” said study author Dr. Elsa S. Strotmeyer.

“I hope that our work increases awareness among patients and health care providers that someone with Diabetes and certain diabetes-related complications is at a higher risk of fracture even if they have a larger body size,” added the researcher, based at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

According to the report in the Archives of Internal Medicine, diabetics typically have a higher bone density than non-diabetics yet seem to have a higher risk of fractures.

To investigate further, Strotmeyer and her team followed 2979 well-functioning people between the ages of 70 and 79 for an average of 4-1/2 years, noting who developed fractures. At the study’s outset, all participants could easily walk one-quarter of a mile, and keep up with day-to-day activities. Nineteen percent had Diabetes.

The people with diabetes tended to weigh more than those who didn’t have the disease, but had a 64 percent higher risk of fractures. Among diabetics, those with a history of falls and stroke were more likely to experience fractures.

These results suggest that neurological or movement problems may explain why diabetics are more prone to fracture, Strotmeyer noted.

She added that people with Diabetes can try to avoid falls by wearing rubber-soled shoes, making sure they walk in well-lit areas, and avoiding medications that increase falling risks.

“Older adults with Diabetes should follow general fracture prevention guidelines,” Strotmeyer advised.

SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, July 25, 2005.

RELATED STORIES:
Phone contact with nurses linked with better outcomes for women with gestational diabetes   Death rate drops among Americans with diabetes -CDC   Correct treatment of common diabetic foot infections can reduce amputations   “Pre-diabetes,” diabetes rising among U.S. teens   Experimental bariatric surgery controls blood sugar in rats with diabetes   53 millions Americans might develop diabetes by 2025   New inflammation hormone link may pave way to study new drugs for type 2 diabetes   Diabetic retinopathy research could reduce screening costs   Liver fat gets a wake-up call that maintains blood sugar levels   Low testosterone levels could raise diabetes risk for men   Prosthetic lets diabetic get a foot up on life   Dealing with Diabetes, One Patient at a Time

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]