Diabetic patients had a significantly greater prevalence of upper limb musculo-skeletal abnormalities, compared with patients without the disorder, according to a study.
The presence of musculoskeletal abnormalities among diabetic patients also was associated with poor glycemic control.
Diabetic patients who have musculoskeletal abnormalities should have their glycemic control thoroughly assessed and should be examined for other complications, wrote the study's lead author, Dr. Navdha Ramchurn, from the department of rheumatology at the Gateshead (England) Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr. Ramchurn and his colleagues compared 96 patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes (mean age 55 years; 63% male) who were seeking care at the Gateshead Diabetes Center with 100 age- and gender-matched controls who were medical outpatients without diabetes. All patients were screened for musculoskeletal abnormalities using the GALS (gait, arms, legs, spine) instrument and the Regional Examination of the Musculoskeletal System (REMS).
About 75% of the diabetic patients screened positive for on the GALS, compared with 53% of the controls (Eur. J. Intern. Med. 2009 [doi:10. 1016/j.ejim.2009.08.00].
Mean hemoglobin A1c values were significantly higher among diabetic patients with hand and shoulder abnormalities, compared with those who had no abnormalities (9.1 vs. 8.0).
The investigators did not have any financial conflicts of interest.