Which musculoskeletal complications are most frequently seen in type 2 diabetes mellitus?

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the most frequently occurring hand and shoulder complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. The presence of cheiroarthropathy, frozen shoulder, Dupuytren's contracture and trigger finger was assessed in 102 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and 101 age- and sex-matched non-diabetic controls. The relationship between these complications and patients' age, sex, duration of diabetes and glycaemic control was also analysed. Cheiroarthropathy, frozen shoulder and Dupuytren's contracture were significantly more prevalent in the diabetic group than in the control group. Females were slightly more affected with frozen shoulder than males and advanced cases (stage 2) of cheiroarthropathy occurred more frequently in females. Duration of diabetes was related to an increased risk of cheiroarthropathy. In conclusion, some musculoskeletal disorders are more prevalent in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and this may be associated with glycaemic control, sex and duration of diabetes.