Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at a higher risk of developing sarcopenia. A new study published in Medicine explored characteristics of general information and metabolic factors of sarcopenia in patients with T2DM, in order to provide information for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia in clinical practice. This study included T2D patients, aged ≥ 65 from Changchun, China, from 2017-2018. Questionnaires of general information, physical examination, laboratory and imaging examination were conducted. The patients were assigned into a sarcopenia group and non-sarcopenia group, according to the diagnostic criteria proposed by the Asian Working Group For Sarcopenia (AWGS)—the differences between the two groups were analyzed. Overall, 132 participants were recruited, of which, 28.8% were diagnosed with sarcopenia while 71.2% did not have sarcopenia. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, trunk fat mass (TFM) and free thyroxine (FT4) were independent risk factors for sarcopenia. BMI (body mass index), exercise, female, metformin and TSM (trunk skeletal muscle mass) were protective factors for sarcopenia. From the results, it was concluded that sarcopenia in patients with T2D, is associated with increased age, increased TFM and increased FT4 level. Whereas, regular exercise, female, metformin administrations, high BMI and increased TSM are associated with lower risk of sarcopenia.

Source: Medicine. 2020 Jan;99(2):e18708. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000018708