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Authors

Abstract

Objectives: To understand the impact of diabetes on bone mineral density and whether it increases the likelihood of osteoporosis. Methods: This study was performed on 327 Saudis (aged >40 years) who were screened for osteoporosis and diabetes mellitus (DM). The levels of osteoporosis were determined by an estimation of Bone mineral density (BMD) using a DEXA scan examination. The data on BMD from diabetic subjects were compared with healthy nondiabetic controls. Results: Out of 327 enrolled subjects, 38 (11.6%) were found to be osteoporotic, whereas 138 (42.2%) had DM. The data showed that the number of patients with osteoporosis in the DM group was 14 (36.8%), significantly lower than in nondiabetic patients, 21 (55.2%) ( p =0.0015). Notably, the data showed no significant difference in the mean BMD of the femur in patients with DM (0.926 g/cm 2 ) and non-diabetes (0.936 g/cm 2 ) ( p =0.280; T-score p =0.4746). The mean BMD levels in the spine of the DM study group (1.049 g/cm 2 ) were significantly higher when compared with nondiabetic healthy controls (0.990 g/cm 2 ) ( p =0.0031). Conclusion: Patients with diabetes had higher lumbar BMD than nondiabetics, although femoral BMD was similar. Patients with diabetes have a lower osteoporosis risk than nondiabetics.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

711

Last Page

716

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