Musculoskeletal disorders in diabetes mellitus

Abstract

• As the population ages, rheumatic complaints in patients with diabetes will increase. • Diabetic neuroarthropathy and amyotrophy are clearly related to diabetes. Some other conditions, such as adhesive capsulitis and hand syndromes, are seen more frequently in patients with diabetes. • Optimising control of diabetes and using individualised physical therapy programs are often the cornerstone of management of musculoskeletal disorders in patients with diabetes. • Careful attention to blood sugar control is required in those patients with diabetes for whom corticosteroids are prescribed. • An enhanced knowledge of rheumatic conditions associated with diabetes mellitus reinforces the optimisation of an individual patient's glycaemic control.