Study Reveals Diabetes’s Adverse Effects on Bone Health An ongoing study at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) has uncovered that diabetes poses a significant threat to bone health, particularly among the elderly population, potentially leading to osteoporosis.
Professor Sushil Gupta, a faculty member in the department of endocrinology leading the study, explained that bone health hinges on two key factors: bone mass and muscle mass (sarcopenia).
These two aspects are interconnected, and a decline in one negatively impacts the other. The study’s preliminary findings suggest that diabetes can lead to a reduction in both bone mass and muscle mass. The initial data from the study, focused primarily on Lucknow and neighboring areas, reveals that 22% of the elderly population with diabetes experienced bone and muscle loss.
This proportion increases to around 40% for individuals over the age of 70. Notably, these trends in India are twice as prevalent as those observed in the Western world. Dr. RN Srivastava, a former professor in the orthopedics department at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), identified poor calcium intake as a primary cause.
The average daily calcium intake in India is around 200 mg, significantly lower than the recommended 1000-1200 mg per day. Inadequate exposure to sunlight, a key source of vitamin D, is also a contributing factor, with over 70% of Indians estimated to be vitamin D deficient. Lack of physical activity further exacerbates the issue.
Experts emphasize the significance of the study’s findings, suggesting the importance of regular monitoring of both diabetes and bone health to delay potential complications.
Poor bone health can significantly affect one’s quality of life and may also influence the management of diabetes by limiting physical activity. The 5th National Family Health Survey revealed that 10% of people aged 15 or older in the state had high to very high levels of blood sugar, which includes those taking medication for diabetes.
High blood sugar was defined as 141-160 units (microgram per deciliter), with levels above 160 units categorized as very high.
