Introduction
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic and progressive metabolic disorder
characterized by hyperglycemia due to defective insulin secretion and
defective insulin action or both.1 Diabetes causes
progressive complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and
neuropathy in the long term. Musculoskeletal disorders are generally not
diabetes-specific and can also be seen in the non-diabetic population.
However, its incidence has increased significantly in patients with
diabetes.2
Musculoskeletal disorders in patients with diabetes include adhesive
capsulitis, limited joint mobility syndrome (LJMS), Dupuytren’s
contracture (DC), flexor tenosynovitis (FT), carpal tunnel syndrome
(CTS), diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), Charcot
arthropathy, diabetic muscle infarction, diabetic foot, gout and
osteoporosis. 3The pathophysiology of musculoskeletal
disorders has not been fully explained, and different mechanisms
triggered by hyperglycemia are thought to be effective. Accompanying
vasculopathy and neuropathy also cause changes in the connective
tissue.4 Although the complications in the
musculoskeletal system are prevalent, they are often overlooked.
However, the presence of these complications affects the patients’
quality of life, leading to pain and limitation of movement.
In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetes-related
musculoskeletal disorders in our patients and the relationship of the
musculoskeletal disorders including carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren’s
contracture, adhesive capsulitis, flexor tenosynovitis, limited joint
mobility syndrome, Charcot arthropathy, diabetic foot, and gout
to the patients’ age, gender, type of diabetes, duration of diabetes,
HbA1c level and microvascular complications.