Diabetes Meds and Increased Fracture Risk: no free lunch
After taking a thiazolidinedione (TZD) for one year, women are 50 percent more likely to have a bone fracture than patients not taking TZDs, according to study results. And those at the greatest risk for fractures from TZD use are women older than 65.
I am a big believer that orthopedic surgeons need to take a leadership role in dealing with metabolic bone disease, of which osteoporosis is the primary player. We will see an explosion in osteoporosis and fragilitity fractures in the coming years as the Baby Boomers move into their golden years. Most recognize female gender and advanced age as risk factors for osteoporosis, but a whole new subcategory of patients is arising: those put at increased risk by the treatment of another medical condition. The above article highlights a diabetes medication that confers higher risk of fracture. This is not the only medication that produces this untoward effect. Predinsone (rheumatoid disorders, severe pulmonary disease or chronic inflammatory conditions and dilantin (seizure disorders) are just a few others. I’ll bet we see more of these types of studies as time goes on. How easy is it for a patient to grasp that their diabetes medication may be making their bones weak? I would guess not easy. Most people with diabetes are still coming to grips with the fact that they have to take medication for a disease that they can’t “feel.”
Like my dad always told me, unfortunately there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
