mgr Małgorzata Soroń

 ORCID: 0000-0002-8446-5889

The topic of my dissertation is “Relationship of type 2 diabetes and factors related to the risk of sarcopenia”

BACKGROUND:

Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of fractures, mainly due to impaired bone architecture and microvascular complications. It is not known if diabetes is also associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia, and studies have shown inconclusive results. Sarcopenia is an age-related degenerative disease of the skeletal muscles characterized by a progressive and generalized decline in muscle mass, strength, and muscle function. It impairs a person's ability to carry out daily activities and has a high risk of falls, fractures and mortality. In order to diagnose sarcopenia, multiple assessments, which combine muscle mass, strength and endurance are needed. Sarcopenia has been associated with physical weakness, cardiometabolic diseases, respiratory diseases, low quality of life and loss of independence. Its overall prevalence is estimated at 10% in the general population, in both sexes, and is higher in non-Asian populations than in Asian populations, although it may vary depending on the definition used.

Diabetic vasculopathy and the accumulation of advanced glycation end products may impair muscle mass and function, leading to sarcopenia. The latter is associated with a 1.5-2-fold increase in the risk of falls and fractures, especially in the elderly. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that sarcopenia may also contribute to an increased risk of diabetes-related fractures. However, available studies published in this context have produced inconclusive results.

OBJECTIVES:

The primary goal of this study is to evaluate strength, mass and muscle endurance in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to age- and gender-matched individuals without diabetes. Secondary objectives include the impact of diabetes treatment (oral medications vs insulin ± oral medications) and its metabolic control (mean HbA1c and its variability over the preceding 5 years, if available).

METHOD:

The study group will consist of people suffering from type 2 diabetes, aged over 50, a control group of people without diabetes, matched in terms of age and sex to the study group. There will be two age and gender subgroups within the study group. The first group will consist of people treated with oral medications, and the second group of people treated with insulin with or without oral medications.

IMPLICATIONS:

It is expected that the obtained results will contribute to the acceleration and improvement of the quality of the process of diagnosing sarcopenia in type 2 diabetes by introducing fast physical tests to support routine diagnostics. It is also expected that the obtained results will contribute to drawing conclusions on the influence of type 2 diabetes, its treatment and metabolic control on the condition of the muscle mass.

KEY WORDS:

type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia, insulin, metformin, muscle weakness