Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis a Barrier to Glycemic Control in T2DM, suggests study

A new cross-sectional study published in the journal of Arthritis Care & Research revealed that symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a barrier to glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). These individuals with an average pain severity of ≥20/100 had lower odds of achieving target glycemic control. The findings suggest that knee OA may act as a clinically relevant and potentially modifiable risk factor contributing to poor diabetes control and increased risk of complications. 

Knee osteoarthritis is marked by pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, and is known to be more common among people with T2DM. However, the mechanisms linking the two conditions have remained unclear. This latest cross-sectional study aimed to explore whether symptomatic knee OA is associated with poorer glycemic control in adults with diabetes.

The research recruited a total of 351 participants aged 45 and older from three academic centers across Canada. The average age was 66.2 years, and just over half (50.7%) were women. Participants completed detailed online questionnaires covering demographics, medical history, and joint symptoms. This study also collected glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels to evaluate long-term blood sugar control.

Knee OA was defined using established clinical criteria, while good glycemic control was classified as an HbA1c level of 7.0% or lower. Overall, 28.5% of participants met the criteria for knee OA, and 43.9% achieved target blood sugar levels.

Initial findings revealed that individuals with knee OA were less likely to meet glycemic targets when compared to those without the condition. However, after adjusting for factors such as age, gender, education, and body mass index, this association was no longer statistically significant. In knee OA participants experiencing more severe symptoms with moderate to high pain levels (rated at least 20 out of 100), a significant link emerged. These individuals were notably less likely to achieve target glycemic control, despite accounting for other influencing factors.

Overall, the findings of this study suggest that pain may play a crucial role in disrupting diabetes management. Reduced mobility, difficulty exercising, and the physiological stress associated with chronic pain could all contribute to poorer blood sugar regulation. The study highlights the need for further research to validate these results and to develop effective strategies for improving knee OA management, which may, in turn, enhance overall diabetes outcomes.

Source:

King, L. K., Weisman, A., Shah, B. R., Goldberg, R., Parikh, A., Stanaitis, I., Hung, V., Nisenbaum, R., Almodahka, A., Lipscombe, L., & Hawker, G. A. (2025). Association between symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and target glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Arthritis Care & Research, acr.70019. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.70019