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How Diabetes and Your Skeleton Interact

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How Diabetes and Your Skeleton Interact

Diabetes touches every area of your body—even your bones.

When the human skeleton is brought up, it is often thought of as a static object, whose purpose is to provide the framework for the rest of the body’s systems. Skeletons, however, are not merely static objects; instead, like the rest of your body, your skeleton interacts and communicates with its surroundings.

Skeletons and Communication

Bones are comprised of many things, but one of the main components is marrow. Marrow is, in part, responsible for the release of red and white blood cells, which contribute to the efficacy of the immune system. Lacking adequate marrow may mean lacking adequate immunity and having a greater risk of developing or sustaining illness.

Bone cells may also be responsible for aiding in blood sugar regulation. Bone cells release a hormone that plays a part in insulin secretion. Men and women with high BMI scores may experience a decrease in this hormone, which can lead to untempered blood glucose and decreased insulin in the body.

Diabetes’ Effect on the Skeleton

Your skeleton could play a role in diabetes development, but the reverse is also true. Diabetes has a marked influence on your bones. Men and women with diabetes are more likely to develop osteoporosis, a condition in which bones grow weak and brittle. Well-managed diabetes does not typically yield osteoporosis, but consistently high blood glucose levels have been linked to weakened bones.

Your skeleton may also be affected by diabetes through nerve damage. If you sustain a break, but have damaged nerves, you may not notice the pain associated with a fracture. Prolonged use of a broken bone can lead to serious illness and a severely degraded skeleton. This type of diabetes complication is more common in the extremities, where nerve damage due to poor circulation is typically found.

Joint pain and decreased synovial fluid also have the potential to develop congruently with diabetes. These symptoms are linked to both high blood glucose numbers and obesity, so diabetes alone is not usually enough for severe joint problems to develop.

Bone Risk and Diabetes

The most common risk associated with bone and joint degeneration is uncontrolled glucose levels. Typically, well-managed diabetes does not yield a vast number of complications or corresponding illnesses. Uncontrolled blood sugar, however, has the power to wreak havoc on your bodily systems as diverse as your metabolic process and your skeleton itself.

References

Mayo Clinic. Accessed 10/4/17.

Diabetes UK. Accessed 10/4/17.