Skeletal Effects of Type 1 Diabetes on Low-Trauma Fracture Risk

Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) have a higher risk of low-trauma (osteoporotic) fracture that is 7-12 times higher than non-diabetics. The bone density of people with Type 1 Diabetes is higher at the time of fracture than in non-diabetics. This suggests the presence of underlying bone tissue mechanical defects. The potential benefits to participants would be knowledge gained about their bone density and the results of laboratory tests. On a wider scale, there may be general benefits to society because the knowledge gained from this study may help better understand the effects of diabetes on bone health

The investigators will enroll 40 female, postmenopausal, patients with T1DM, fracturing or non-fracturing, who are age 50 and over, and have had diabetes for more than ten years. The investigators will perform 2 transiliac (hip bone) biopsies on each subject, one for mechanical testing, tissue analysis of AGEs, enzymatic crosslinks and bone tissue-bound water in cortical bone, and the other for histomorphometry and high-resolution 3D imaging in trabecular bone. A matched, non-diabetic, healthy control will be enrolled at the time each T1DM is enrolled.