Bone Turnover Markers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Their Correlation with Glycosylated Haemoglobin Levels

The aim of this prospective, longitudinal study was to investigate, over a period of 12 months, the effects of metabolic control on bone turnover markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study included 17 male and 18 female patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 37 - 66 years. Mean follow-up period was 12 +/- 1.2 months. Mean glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1C)) levels were 10.6% +/- 1.6% at the start of the study and decreased to 7.7% +/- 1.0% by the end of the study. Levels of the bone resorption markers, urinary deoxypyridinoline and N-telopeptide, were 28.6 +/- 11.6 nmol/mmol creatinine and 93.6 +/- 13.7 nmol bone collagen equivalents [BCE]/mmol creatinine, respectively, at the start of the study, and decreased significantly to 17.9 +/- 7.1 nmol/mmol creatinine and 67.8 +/- 12.8 nmol BCE/mmol creatinine, respectively, by the end of the study. Bone formation parameters also significantly decreased in parallel with HbA(1C) levels over the study period. It is concluded that effective management of metabolic disorder in patients with type 2 diabetes plays an important contribution to bone turnover improvement.