Diabetes 'weakens the bones'

For diabetes sufferers, the condition is a daily struggle which may lead to eye problems and other physical issues.

Now, it appears that diabetes may also be responsible for weakening the bones of sufferers, which may result in other long-term issues such as osteoperosis and broken bones.

Researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and the Boston University School of Medicine conducted a study which showed that diabetic patients often experience low bone density, which is associated with increased risk of bone fractures and delayed fracture repair.

Dr Dana Graves, who led the study, told health cover holders that the team explored bone repair in a mouse model and observed increased levels of inflammatory molecules, including TNF-a.

This inflammatory molecule is responsible for weakening bones and the specialist said that understanding how this process affects diabetics may be able to reduce skeletal problems later in life.

The report is entitled High Levels of TNF-a Contribute to Accelerated Loss of Cartilage in Diabetic Fracture Healing and appears in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Pathology.

Dr Graves commented: "TNF-a dysregulation plays a prominent role in the recently identified catabolic events associated with diabetic fracture healing."

She told private health insurance customers that the team will now attempt to understand the effect of another molecule called FOXO1, which they believe also has an impact on bone damage in diabetics.

"In futures studies, we plan to examine the effect of FOXO1 on mineralised tissue to examine how it may regulate factors that control bone resorption and osteoclastogenesis, in addition to effects it may have on osteoblastic cells," the expert continued.

As diabetes currently affects over 170 million people worldwide and incidence continues to escalate, Dr Grave said it is important to understand its involvement in bone weakening as soon as possible.

By Louise Jones

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