Mechanisms involved in the bone fragility in Diabetes Mellitus.

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with important comorbidities. The skeletal system seems to be an additional target of diabetes mediated damage. It is accepted that type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with an increased risk of bone fracture. Several studies have shown that metabolic changes caused by diabetes can influence bone metabolism by decreasing bone quality and resistance.
However, the underlying mechanisms are not completely known but they are multifactorial and probably include the effects of obesity, hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and accumulation of advanced glycosylation end products. These would lead to an imbalance of several processes and systems: bone formation, bone resorption, formation and collagen cross-linking. Other additional factors such as treatment-induced hypoglycemia, certain antidiabetic medications with a direct effect on bone and mineral metabolism, as well as an increased propensity for falls, would contribute to the increased risk of fractures in patients with diabetes mellitus. This review aims to describe the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying bone fragility in diabetic patients.