How Diabetes Affects Bones

Diabetes is a serious health issue. More than 24 million Americans have been impacted by diabetes. This disease may cause many problems, including limb loss and even heart disease. Understanding how diabetes affects bones can help you understand how serious this health issue is.

Diabetes can Cause Serious Damage to the Bones

There are many ways diabetes can cause damage to your body. The bones are one of the essential parts of your body. Some of the ways diabetes can affect the bones include:

• Blood sugar levels rising may cause bone-forming cells to be inhibited
• Damage to the kidneys from diabetes may result in a loss of calcium, which is necessary to form strong bones
• Diabetes increases your risk of falling, which may lead to a bone fracture
• Some diabetic medications may cause the side effect of bone loss
• Those with diabetes may also experience joint deterioration due to the nerve damage from diabetes

These are just a few of the ways diabetes can affect your bones. The effects of diabetes can lead to many bone conditions.

Common Bone Conditions Caused by Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you might end up with a common bone condition. Most of these conditions are treated. Here are the common bone conditions caused by diabetes and how to treat them.

• Charcot Joint – This type of joint deterioration is caused by the nerve damage diabetes may be responsible for. It will likely come with a loss of sensation, numbness, or tingling in the feet. If this is detected early, it can be halted before it gets worse. Treatment often includes limited weight-bearing and orthotic supports.
• Osteoporosis – A very common bone condition due to diabetes is osteoporosis. This is a low bone mineral density, which causes your bones to be weaker. Treatment includes a healthier lifestyle, including a diet rich in vitamin D and calcium.
• Diabetic Hand Syndrome – Another common bone condition caused by diabetes; diabetic hand syndrome is a thickened skin on the hands. It can cause mobility issues in the fingers. Usually, this condition is treated with physical therapy and better management of your blood glucose.
• Osteoarthritis – If you suffer from osteoarthritis due to diabetes, you suffer from a breakdown of joint cartilage. This type of bone condition can be treated by keeping stress off the joint and through surgical repair.

Along with these common bone conditions, you might also suffer from frozen shoulder, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, Dupuytren’s contracture, or another bone condition. Diet and physical activity will play important factors in suffering from bone issues due to diabetes.

Preventing Bone Issues

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you can do certain things to help prevent issues with your bones. A healthy diet with vitamin D, vitamin K2, magnesium, calcium, and other bone-0building supplements can help. It is also important to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Regular exercise can also help ensure your bones are less affected by diabetes.

Of course, speak with your doctor to find out the best way to keep diabetes from impacting your bones. With proper management and lifestyle changes, you can keep the potentially harmful impact of diabetes to a minimum.