Rheumatic conditions in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic systemic disease with a wide range of complications, including complications in the musculoskeletal system. DM is a common disease in nearly all countries and continues to increase in numbers and significance. Approximately 90 % of patients have type 2 DM which is caused by resistance to insulin. Type 1 DM results from an absolute deficiency of insulin due to an autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells within the pancreas. Diabetic patients suffer from diverse rheumatic conditions that affect their life quality. This article reviews the rheumatic conditions that are associated with DM and the pathophysiologic relationships that might link these conditions; it also summarizes recent advances in the field of diabetes and rheumatic conditions. The rheumatic conditions that are discussed in this review include limited joint mobility, Dupuytren's contracture, flexor tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, adhesive capsulitis, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, neuropathic osteoarthropathy, diabetic muscle infarction, crystal induced arthritis, osteoarthritis, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy.