Diabetes and joint pain are commonly found together, but what exactly is the connection. One might say that they are found together simply because arthritis and diabetes are two conditions found in the elderly. This indeed is true. According to Arthritis.ofg, the diseases often overlap. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that more than half the people with diabetes also have arthritis.
Obesity may also be a factor in the connection between joint pain and diabetes. When a person is obese, it leads to increased stress on the joints. This added stress leads to wear and tear over time. Being overweight and obese is one of the leading risk factors for diabetes.
Can Diabetes Cause Joint Pain
Can diabetes cause joint pain? It is known that diabetes can cause changes in your musculoskeletal system. In fact, some musculoskeletal problems are specifically linked to diabetes. Some of these include trigger finger, carpal tunnel, and frozen shoulder. All of these are the most direct examples of diabetes joint pain.
Does Diabetes Cause Joint Pain
It is well established that those who have diabetes are at an increased risk of developing joint pain. However, the question remains “does diabetes actually cause joint pain. Diabetes opens the door to many conditions which may lead to joint pain. In most cases, the disease itself does not lead to joint pain. There are a few possible exceptions.
Frozen should is a diabetes joint pain condition which is fairly common. It affects nearly 20 percent of those with diabetes and only 5 percent of those without diabetes. Theories are still being developed on why this is so. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), one theory states that excess glucose (sugar) molecules may attach to collagen, leading to abnormal collagen deposits in the cartilage and tendons of the should. This buildup can cause the affected shoulder to stiffen up. If this is the true cause of frozen shoulder, then it is likely that diabetes can affect other joints in this same manner.
Charcot joint is another example which may reveal the connection between diabetes and joint pain. High blood glucose levels lead to neuropathy, or nerve damage, which in turn leads to loss of sensation. This causes the muscles around the joint to no longer be able to support it properly, and due to the lack of pain perception, can lead injuries and traumas to go unnoticed and untreated.
There are many lingering questions about autoimmune causes of both diabetes and joint pain. For example, it is know that both diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are caused by autoimmunity. In type 1 diabetes, the body attacks its own pancreas cells and prevents the production of insulin. In RA, the body attacks the synovial tissue lining of the joints. In both conditions, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 level are often found to be increased. So, in this example of diabetes and joint pain, both conditions may have been caused by the same thing.
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