Diabetes is increasingly recognized as a significant risk to bone health, causing a decline in both bone mass and muscle mass.

These are the findings of an ongoing study at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS). Prof. Sushil Gupta, faculty, department of endocrinology, who is leading the study, said: “Bone health rests on two factors — bone mass and muscle mass (sarcopenia). In fact, the relationship between bones and muscle mass was complementary to each other. A fall in one triggers a decline in the health of another.”

Gupta claimed that preliminary findings of the study that largely speaks for Lucknow and adjoining districts showed that 22 percent of the elderly population with diabetes, faced bone loss and muscle loss. The proportion of such people after the age of 70 is about 40 percent.

Elevated Osteoporosis Risk in India

He also informed that the trends in India are twice that of the western world. A former professor of orthopedics department King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Dr. RN Srivastava said: “Poor calcium intake is the primary cause. The average daily intake is 200 mg per day which is way less than the recommended intake of 1000-1200 mg per day. Low exposure to sun — the main and most reliable source of vitamin D — is also a reason.”

Vitamin D Deficiency Rates in India: Implications for Diabetes and Bone Health

Estimates show that over 70 percent Indians are vitamin D deficient. Lack of physical activity is the third big cause.”Stating that the findings of the study were significant, experts suggest that regular monitoring of both diabetes and bone health should be done to delay the possible complications. Poor bone health adversely impacts quality of life,” explained Dr. Sunil Varma, a general physician and diabetologist.