Type 2 diabetes is associated with a 25% higher overall fracture risk, according to a 2026 meta-analysis of more than 13 million participants. The risk is particularly elevated in the lower limbs, including hips, ankles, and feet.
Women with Type 2 diabetes face a significantly greater fracture risk than men, especially after prolonged disease duration. Lower limb fractures are up to 40% more likely, while upper limb and fragility fractures are also increased.
The condition disrupts calcium metabolism, bone turnover, and bone mineral density. Researchers urge personalized fracture prevention strategies and site-specific risk assessments for diabetic patients.
Experts call for future studies to examine how ethnicity impacts fracture susceptibility in diabetic populations.