A new danger of diabetes has been identified

Hidden threat: diabetes increases fracture risk even with healthy bones - sensational discovery by international scientists in a large-scale study published in the prestigious journal Osteoporosis International. A particularly paradoxical situation is observed in type 2 diabetes: patients with this disease suffer from fractures more often, despite high bone mineral density (BMD) indicators.

Scientific data reveal the cause of this phenomenon: it's all about changes in bone structure invisible to the eye. People with type 2 diabetes show an increase in the volume of spongy tissue (trabeculae), however, at the same time, the porosity of the cortical layer - the main framework providing bone strength - increases. These microscopic changes reach critical values in the late stages of diabetes.

For a more accurate risk assessment, specialists use the trabecular bone score (TBS), which is calculated based on X-ray images of the spine. In diabetics, this indicator is often reduced, signaling increased bone fragility. However, researchers have discovered a problem: in overweight patients, adipose tissue distorts measurement results, which requires serious adjustment of the calculation methodology.

Scientists insist on the need to revise traditional approaches to diagnosing osteoporosis in diabetic patients, recommending the implementation of improved TBS algorithms and comprehensive methods for assessing bone tissue condition.