Microvascular disease induced osteocytic matrix changes in type 2 diabetic bone

Patients with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of sustaining a hip fracture despite having normal or even increased bone mass. Bone is resorbed and formed continuously in a process that is regulated by several hormones and cells, including osteocytes, which are embedded in the bone tissue. Our preliminary data shows that microvascular disease, a well-known type 2 diabetes-related complication, is associated with enlarged osteocyte lacunae. We hypothesise that the bone matrix surrounding the enlarged osteocyte lacunae differs in mineral and collagen composition compared to bone matrix surrounding the smaller osteocyte lacunae from patients without microvascular diseases. We aim to test the hypothesis by high resolution scanning of thin bone slices from adult patients with type 2 diabetes with or without microvascular disease.