Bone status in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes: a 10-year longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION

This study presents a 10-year longitudinal assessment of bone status in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-two patients (12 female, aged 20.5 ± 3.93 years, T1D duration 13.9 ± 1.97 years) were studied using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Standard deviation scores (SDS) for these results were calculated. The following clinical parameters were analysed: sex, age, T1D duration, anthropometric parameters, daily insulin requirement (DIR), mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in the year preceding the examination, medication other than insulin, history of bone fractures, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

The current and past (measured 10 years earlier) QUS results did not differ and showed a significant correlation (r = 0.55, p = 0.001). We found no relation of QUS results and anthropometric parameters or gender. DXA parameters did not correlate with the present QUS measurement. DXA and QUS results were independent of HbA1c, co-morbidities, or intake of additional medicaments.

CONCLUSIONS

Bone status parameters of the examined patients with currently suboptimal glycaemic control were found to be lowered in comparison to a normative reference population, both at baseline and follow-up, although no further deterioration was observed during the 10-year follow-up period.