An update on the role of antihyperglycemic agents in diabetoporosis

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder that progresses globally at an alarming rate. The impact of this disorder is severe as it deteriorates the quality of life due to its associated diseases such as kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and neurological disorders and also disturbs bone metabolism. One of the major complications of diabetes is osteoporosis, which is frequently brought on by diabetes. Bone abnormalities and a higher risk of fractures are linked to both type type-1 diabetes and type-2 diabetes and hence diabetes is regarded as one of the risk factors for the occurrence of osteoporosis. In view of this, there is a need to assess the therapeutic role of hypoglycemic agents in the treatment of osteoporosis. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, a hypoglycemic class could be a novel and promising drug target in the management of osteoporosis due to its additional role in the bone remodeling process. It has also been reported that GLP-1 agonists can increase bone mineral density, improve bone quality, and prevent fractures in diabetic patients. This review highlights the recent findings by which antidiabetic medications are used in the treatment of diabetes-induced osteoporosis and also gives an insight into its pathophysiology and possible mechanisms that are involved in the treatment of diabetes-induced osteoporosis. However, more research is required to fully understand the therapeutic role and unique mechanism of GLP-1 agonists in the bone remodeling process.