[Determination of changes in the mineral content of the bones of diabetics by photon absorption measurements].

The absolute value of mineral content of the bones (MCB), obtained from a single measurement and compared with the so called mean or normal value for a certain age-sex population, cannot be a reliable diagnostic index owing to the great individual discrepancies of MCB, reaching even to +/- 40%. Only the successive, dynamic and compared within each other values of MCB could be of use for the purposes of medical diagnostics and therapy. As a result for periodic measurements in patients with diabetes, the juvenile diabetes was concluded to be characterized by a higher initial MCB value and a faster demineralization, contrary to diabetes that advanced at an older age.