Background. The aim of shit study was to find the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in postmenopausal diabetic females and its association with the diabetic compensation and angiopathic complications. Methods and Results. Bone mineral density was measured in 156 diabetic females, 44 of them had type 1 diabetes mellitus (mean age 53±8.9 years) and 112 type 2 (mean age 60±9.2 years). In the lumbar spine and proximal femur the prevalence of osteoporosis varied between 9-11 % and 18-20 % respectively. The respective prevalence of osteopenia amounted 30-36 % and 34-48 %. No statistically significant differences were found between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Any association with diabetic compensation and the diabetic microangiopathic complications was not found. Only in females with osteoporosis the prevalence of cardiovascular heart disease was higher than in those with normal bone mineral density. Conclusion. The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in postmenopausal diabetic women in similar to those in the common population of the respective age.

        Key words: diabetes, osteoporosis, osteopenia, menopause.