Diabetes research links glycemic control to kidney disease and fracture risks

Recent medical studies have identified new complexities regarding health risks for older adults living with type 2 diabetes.

A retrospective multicenter cohort analysis published in PLOS One indicates that poor glycemic control is independently linked to a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a faster progression toward the condition in patients aged 80 and older. The study, which followed 1,062 patients, found that those with poor glycemic control had a significantly higher incidence of CKD compared to those with good control (HbA1c below 7.5%).

Separately, research from the Framingham Study published in Diabetes Care suggests that bone density alone does not account for the increased fracture risk seen in some older adults with type 2 diabetes. Using novel imaging to examine cortical and trabecular bone, researchers found that bone loss was similar between diabetic and non-diabetic older adults. This suggests that while patients with type 2 diabetes may have denser bones, other factors beyond density influence their increased susceptibility to fractures.