A study carried out with 200 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes has observed that bone health can progressively deteriorate over the years, especially in those who have been living with the disease for longer or have less favorable metabolic control.
The worrying thing is that childhood and adolescence are key stages to develop the maximum bone mass that we will have during life.If this process is not completed optimally, the risk of osteoporosis and fractures in adulthood could be higher.
The researchers found that young people with more than five years of diabetes had lower bone density, less muscle mass and lower insulin sensitivity.In addition, factors such as high HbA1c, dyslipidemia or pubertal development itself also influenced bone health.
It is important to put these results in context.This study does not prove that all people with type 1 diabetes will have bone problems, nor does it imply that specific tests should be routinely performed.More research is still needed to confirm these findings and establish clinical recommendations.
Still, the message is interesting: caring for diabetes also means caring for much more than glucose.Maintaining good glycemic control, engaging in regular physical exercise – especially activities that strengthen muscles and bones –, ensuring a balanced diet with sufficient calcium and vitamin D when necessary, and following medical check-ups are habits that are likely to also benefit our bone health.
We increasingly understand how diabetes can influence different parts of the body.The sooner we identify these risks and act on them, the more likely we are to reach adulthood and old age with a better quality of life.
