Rowan Hillson:Diabetes and fracture risk

Adapted from:

 

Fractures and Diabetes

Rowan Hillson MBE

National Clinical Director for Diabetes England 2008-18

 

Practical Diabetes Jan/Feb 17

Summary

Fractures are more likely in diabetics compared to non- diabetics. Metabolic factors, an increased risk of falls, complications, infection, medications and the effects of low blood sugars all contribute. Neuropathy is a particular problem. This can cause an abnormal gait, stumbling, and a lack of awareness of actually sustaining injury. Even fractures may not cause anything like the expected pain. Charcot’s foot can cause lifelong disability. Visual problems also cause falls as does the effects of stroke and amputation.

It can help if someone goes round the house to check for trip hazards. Vitamin D supplements and increasing dietary calcium can help. Be aware that sulphonylureas can cause low blood sugars as well as insulin.

If a diabetic, particularly one who has neuropathy, presents with an injury they need careful evaluation to avoid missing fractures.

Fracture risk

Type one women  are six times more likely and type twos are twice as likely to sustain a fracture of the hip than a non diabetic. The longer the diabetes, the more the risk.

Low blood sugars

Low blood sugars are probably under reported by diabetics due to fears about losing their driving licences.

 

Charcot Foot

Charcot foot presents as a swollen, red foot. There can be an underlying fracture. Because the person does not realise they have a fracture, they continue to weight bear, and this produces deformity of the foot. Best advice is that if a diabetic with neuropathy gets an unexplained inflammation of a foot that they stay off of it and get an urgent assessment by a multi disciplinary team at a diabetic foot clinic. Trouble is, that these are not available for all patients in the UK.

Drugs

Glitazones, eg Pioglitazone, doubles the risk of upper limb fracture in women.  Flozins such as Canaglifozin is suspected of increasing fracture rates and Sulphonyureas definitely do, but probably due to the hypoglycaemic effect.

Falls

Diabetics fall more than their non-diabetic counterparts. 18% of women over the age of 67 with diabetes fell at least once a year. The rate is higher in insulin users, neuropathy,  renal impairment, poor vision and low Hba1cs.