How Does Diabetes Affect Your Bones And Joints?

     Bone formation and bone destruction run concurrently throughout life.  Bone is living tissue.  Bones are constantly breaking down and rebuilding.  As we get older, bone turnover changes.  The rate of growth decreases while removal of old bone continues, which leads to bone loss.  The formation of bone tissue continues long after bones stop increasing in size.  Between the ages of thirty-five and forty, bone loss usually exceeds bone gain.  Bones provide shape and support for our bodies, serve as storage sites for mineral salts and play an important role in providing, in bone morrow, a site for the formation of blood cells.  Bone consists of about 50% water and 50% solid matter, mainly cartilage hardened by joining with organic salts, esp. carbohydrate and phosphate of lime.  Diabetes can impact bones and joints in many ways.  A joint is a point of juncture between two bones and is usually formed of fibrous connective tissue and cartilage.  Skeletal health is important, especially for older adults who may or may not be diabetic, because of the risk of fractures.  It is the characteristic of diabetes that causes a greater risk for bone and joint illness and disease; the healing process often takes longer and is more difficult.     

     Calcium is taken into your body in various foods.  Much of this calcium is insoluble and is not absorbed, but some of it will pass through the intestines into the blood.  Calcium is very important in blood coagulation and gives firmness and rigidity to bone and teeth.  Bones need calcium, phosphorus and protein, but vitamins A, D, and C must also be present for bone growth and stability.  For proper utilization of the calcium you get from your diet and/or added supplements, you need magnesium, Vitamin D, and Zinc (but not in mega amounts).  Magnesium is for bone strength and is required to ensure proper calcium utilization.  Vitamin D facilitates adequate absorption.  Zinc is needed to assist bone calcification.  Several factors can influence the absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract.  Large quantities of corn, bread, and rice may lead to decreased absorption. 

Having diabetes can cause or lead to many risks such as:

1.  One bone disease that a lot of people have is Osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis is a painful and crippling disease.   Risk factors for osteoporosis are: a family history, going through, or having gone through, menopause because menopause can cause a sharp decline in estrogen, smoking as well as alcohol reduces the body's absorption of calcium.  Some exercising makes bone stronger … bones respond to exercise by laying down more collagen, fibers, and mineral salts in bone matrix thus making the bones stronger and you should not be eating fewer than three servings of dairy foods each day.

2.  Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease involving the joints. A disorder often due to extra weight and added stress, especially on weight-bearing joints.  Diabetics are at greater risk because of obesity.

3.  Having Sensory Neuropathy can interfere with the ability of nerves to carry messages from bone to brain. Sensory neuropathy changes usually occur in the feet and can progress to the legs, stomach, fingers and hands.

4.  Osteopenia is a small outgrowth of bone that occurs within joints at other sites where there is degeneration of cartilage.  The combination of neuropathy and osteopenia can lead to significant problems for a diabetic.

5.  Diabetes has been associated with an increased risk of Fractures of the foot, hip, and humerus.  Treatment of fractures and/or other bone problems can lead to complications such as infection, faulty healing, possibly Charcot's joint. 

6.  Osteomalacia is a disease that causes an adult's bones to soften over time, resulting in muscle weakness and bone pain.  Osteomalacia is caused by a dysfunction in the bone-building process.  Sometimes genetics can affect vitamin D metabolism and can cause serious bone fractures and should be treated.  Signs and symptoms include muscular discomfort, frequent bone fractures, dislocation of a joint, swelling, numbness and even inability to feel the bone.  Ostemalacia can be treated with supplements to resolve vitamin D and calcium deficiencies, lifestyle changes especially adequate sun exposure, eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of dairy products, don't smoke, and take all medications prescribed.   

7.  Other problems include:  Diabetic hand syndrome, and DISH which is a bony overgrowth where tendons and ligaments attach to bone.  If you are experiencing increased stuffiness in your back or neck be sure to consult with your doctor, and Dupuytren's Constracture causes one or more fingers to bend into the palm so they cannot be extended.

      If you have never had a bone scan, you might want to get one, especially if you are having bone or joint problems.  A bone scan gives a score they use to measure bone density and determine your risk of developing a fracture, etc.  This is referred to as a t=score.  The lower the bone density, the lower the t=score, and the higher the risk factor.
     Never make the mistake of  thinking you are older now and do not need as
much calcium as when you were younger.  There is no age when you need
less bone strengthening practices.