Regular screening of upper-extremity impairments may benefit Type 1 diabetes patients

For this purpose, the researchers paired data on upper-extremity impairments and health behaviour with clinical factors and sociodemographics data from national registers. Participants were 2,245 individuals with type 1 diabetes, and 841 comprised the control group. Differences between groups were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression and binomial proportions.

The study led to the following findings:

• Compared with controls, individuals with type 1 diabetes were significantly more likely to experience frozen shoulder (odds ratio [OR] 3.5), trigger finger (OR 5.0), carpal tunnel syndrome (OR 3.5), and Dupuytren contracture (OR 4.3).
• They were also more likely to have several coexisting impairments than the control group.
• Diabetes duration was associated with all four impairments.

"Our findings showed that upper-extremity impairments are common, particularly among individuals with type 1 diabetes," the researchers wrote. Therefore, they suggest regular screening for upper-extremity impairments in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Reference:

Sabina Wagner, Kirsten Nørgaard, Ingrid Willaing, Kasper Olesen, Henrik U. Andersen; Upper-Extremity Impairments in Type 1 Diabetes: Results From a Controlled Nationwide Study. Diabetes Care 1 June 2023; 46 (6): 1204–1208. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-0063