The Boney Issue of Diabetes

Some disorders in the body’s various bones and bone joints are associated with diabetes. The cause is unclear so far but contributors are diabetic neuropathy, obesity and arterial disease.

Diabetes affects even the strongest and hardest part of the body – the bones. Bones and bone joints are damaged because of diabetes complication. Some symptoms maybe felt through tingling, numbness or sensation loss in the affected joints. These affected joints can become swollen, unstable and even deformed.

Here are some of the commonly-known bone disorders:

Osteoporosis

In osteoporosis, the bones are weakened and tend to fracture easily. This is painful and can cause disability. Osteoporosis may not show symptoms at early stages, but eventually it can lead to stooping thus, reduction in the height and fractures of wrists, backbones and other bones. This usually happens to patients with type 1 diabetes since their bone density is low.

Charcot's joints

Also known as neuropathic joint disease, Charcot’s (shahr-KO) joint affects about 15% of diabetes patients, usually type 1. The main injury is in the feet bone joints which are weakened due to nerve damage. The collapse of bone structures leads to deformities. The joints can become unstable and swollen and result to numbness, tingling, open wound and deformities in ankle or foot.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a problem in the joint when the joint cartilage degenerates. This affects any body part and usually happens to type 2 diabetics since this is frequently associated with overweight and obesity. The extra body weight can strain the joints that result to degeneration. This can be painful and swelling can take place as well as stiffness and less flexibility.

Cheiroarthropathy

Diabetes can also cause cheiroarthropathy, also known as diabetic hand syndrome which affects the bones in the hands and fingers. This disorder occurs when the skin on the hands appears thick and waxy which eventually limits any finger movement. This usually happens to people having diabetes for so long albeit the cause of this is not known yet.

DISH

Also called Forestier disease, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH), is when ligaments and tendons are hardened and affect the spine. These result to pain, decreased range of motion and stiffness in the affected parts. This usually happens to type 2 diabetics.

Dupuytren contracture

Dupuytren contracture is a deformity wherein connective tissues in the palm of the fingers and hand are scarred and thickened, so any finger shall bend to the direction of the palm. This usually happens to those who have diabetes for a long time and maybe caused by diabetes-related metabolic changes. This starts with thickening of the palm skin in the hand and the patient shall not be able to straighten any of his finger fully.

Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder is when the range of motion is limited and shoulder pain always happens. It usually occurs only in one shoulder and the common culprit is diabetes, albeit the root cause remains unknown.

Bone problems if detected and treated earlier can be cured. If there should be feelings of warning signs in your body, visit the doctor immediately for checkup.