A comparison of bone mineral density of healty subjects and patients with type 1 diabetes.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the skeletal and mandibular BMD of type 1 diabetes patients and compare them to a control group. DEXA measurements and mandibular optical densitometers of 58 subjects consisting of 30 type 1 diabetes patients and 28 control patients were evaluated. In addition, the relationship between BMD and the duration of diabetes condition, gender, insulin dose, HbA1C, microangiopatic complications and VKI in type 1 diabetes patients were investigated. A significant difference in BMD between the test and the control groups was found. In type 1 diabetes patients, reduction of BMD in femur, lumbar vertebra and mandible was observed. The relationship between the duration of diabetes and BMD was found to be negative, whereas the relationship between VKİ and BMD was found to be positive. In consequence, it is considered that type 1 diabetes patients might experience a reduction of BMD, and panoramic radiographs could be useful for determining the effect of BMD reduction on the mandible. Key Words: Type 1 Diabetes, bone mineral density, panoramic radyography