Femoral Cortical Bone from Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Individuals Exhibit Impaired Osteocyte Viability in the Periosteal Region

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients have an up to 7-fold higher hip fracture risk compared to healthy individuals. The underlying mechanism of impaired bone quality in T1DM is unknown. Osteocytes play a pivotal role in mechanosensation and maintain skeletal homeostasis. Micropetrosis is osteocyte-lacuna mineralisation indicating previous osteocyte death and can delimit the lacuno-canalicular network, possibly resulting in changes in bone quality contributing to increased bone fragility in T1DM.