Rheumatological manifestations of type 2 diabetes and its relationship to glycemic control and duration of diabetes

Background: While so much emphasis is given to micro and macro vascular complications of diabetes, other long-term complications especially musculoskeletal are often overlooked and underappreciated. This study investigates the prevalence of joint complications among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to examine their relationship with duration of diabetes and glycemic control. Materials and Methods: The presence of various rheumatological complications were assessed in 763 type 2 diabetes patients and their age and sex-matched non-diabetic controls. The relationship between these complications and duration of diabetes and long-term glycemic control was determined. Results: Frozen shoulder (15.6%), LJM syndrome (30.1%), carpal tunnel syndrome (10.2%), trigger finger (9%), DISH (26%) and dupuytren′s contracture (12%) were significantly more prevalent in the diabetic than the control group. Prevalence of OA did not show any significant difference between the two groups. The risk of rheumatological complications increased with deteriorating glycemic control. Conclusion: Periarthritis, diabetic cheiroarthropathy, dupuytren′s contracture, carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and DISH are the most prevalent rheumatological complications n the study diabetic population