Objective
To investigate the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and bone mineral density (BMD), the relationship between the duration of type 2 diabetes and BMD, and the effect of diabetic microangiopathies on BMD. Method: 52 men, aged 55∼65 years, with type 2 diabetes and 52 men without diabetes were studied and matched by age and body mass index (BMI). The slit-lamp examinations and the nerve conduction studies were used for diagnosing diabetic retinopathies and diabetic peripheral polyneuropathies, respectively. The densitometric studies were carried out in the L1, L2, L3, L4 and total lumbar vertebra, the femoral necks, the trochanters, and total hips using a DEXA densitometer. Results: Diabetic men had BMDs similar to those of the control group. There is no relationship between the duration of diabetes and BMD. BMDs at the trochanters in subjects with diabetic microangiopathies were reduced in comparison with those without diabetic microangiopathies (p＜0.05). Conclusion: The densitometric studies may be helpful to diabetic men with microangiopathies, especially with other osteoporotic risks. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2006; 30: 619-625)
