Pre-menopausal women suffering from diabetes are much more likely to suffer osteoporosis, according to a recent study conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.

Osteoporosis, an age-related disorder associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD), is a major health threat among menopausal women.

The study has found an association between diabetes and increased risk of osteoporotic hip and other fractures. It was undertaken to assess the bone strength in pre-menopausal women aged 30 to 50 years with diabetes as they reach the menopausal.

The study compared the BMD among middle-aged pre-menopausal women with and without diabetes. A case control designed was used to compare 63 respondents, matched for age. Six of the respondents were diagnosed to have type 1 diabetes, 27 with type 2 diabetes and 30 without diabetes.

It turned out that the non-diabetic women had the highest bone mineral density across the subgroups while women with type 1 diabetes had the lowest bone mineral density.

The study theorized that the lower BMD in type 1 against type 2 diabetic patients had the lowest bone mineral density due to the more rapid bone loss after the onset of type 1 diabetes although the cause is still unknown.

In general, the study found that diabetic subjects tend to have lower BMD compared to non-diabetic subjects.

It, thus, recommended that further studies be conducted on bone health among pre-menopausal diabetic women in various physical and lifestyle activities.