Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Diabetes mellitus is generally is considered a risk factor for fracture among older women. The present study was conducted to assess risk of fracture in older women with diabetes. Materials & Methods: 82 women were divided into 2 groups based on with type II diabetes. Group I had type II diabetes women and group II had normal women. A history of fall in the last year was noted. History of a low trauma fracture in adult life was obtained in all patients. Weight, height, waist circumference, lying and standing heart rate, and blood pressure were measured. Bone density measurements were carried out using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: The mean age (years) was 65.4 in group I and 68.2 in group II, height (cm) was 158.2 in group I and 158.1 in group II and BMI (kg/m2) was 29.2 in group I and 26.4 in group II, falls in year before baseline was seen in 14 in group I and 8 in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Calcaneal BMD (g/cm2) was 0.448 in group I and 0.402 in group II, calcaneal BMD at visit 4 (g/cm2) was 0.409 in group I and 0.398 in group II, distal radius BMD (g/cm2) was 0.394 in group I and 0.354 in group II and femoral neck BMDc (g/cm2) was 0.684 in group I and 0.642 in group II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Diabetes is a risk factor for fractures among older women, suggesting that fracture prevention efforts should be a consideration in the treatment of diabetes.