Association of glycaemic variables with trabecular bone score in post‐menopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aim To determine the relationship between bone microarchitecture, as measured by trabecular bone score, and advanced glycation end‐product accumulation, as assessed by skin autofluorescence. Methods This was a cross‐sectional study. Participants were 64 post‐menopausal women with type 2 diabetes and 175 post‐menopausal women without diabetes. Trabecular bone score and skin autofluorescence data were obtained at time of bone density measurement. Results Trabecular bone score and skin autofluorescence were inversely correlated in women with type 2 diabetes (r = –0.34, P = 0.006); no correlation was seen in post‐menopausal women without diabetes (r = –0.029, P = 0.707). After adjustment, neither skin autofluorescence nor a diagnosis of diabetes were associated with trabecular bone score, but HbA1c and waist circumference were independently associated with trabecular bone score. Conclusion Skin autofluorescence did not predict trabecular bone score. In contrast, glycaemia, as reflected by HbA1c, and visceral adiposity, as reflected by waist circumference, were independently associated with trabecular bone score.