A recent study by our own Samuel Ghatan, utilizing data from the UK Biobank, examines the relationship between glycemic control, bone mineral density (BMD), and fracture risk in type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). With over 452,000 participants, the study found that in T1D patients, a 1% increase in HbA1c levels was linked to a 12% rise in fracture risk. Notably, individuals with inadequately controlled diabetes faced the highest fracture risk, emphasizing the importance of proper glycemic control.

In T2D, the study revealed a U-shaped relationship between HbA1c and fracture risk, suggesting that both low and high HbA1c levels increase fracture risk. Mendelian randomization analyses showed that lower HbA1c could reduce fracture risk in T1D patients, while T2D patients benefit from controlled HbA1c levels up to a threshold.

These findings, from the BoneCraft group, provide valuable insights for managing bone health in diabetes, potentially influencing clinical approaches to reduce fracture risk in diabetic patients.

This study was published in JBMR Plus. Want to read the full publication? Click here.