Limited finger joint mobility in insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent Ethiopian diabetics

The prevalence of limited joint mobility (LJM) was studied in 110 insulin-dependent (IDDM) and 190 non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) consecutive Ethiopian African diabetics and 300 age- and sex-matched controls at the Tikur Anbassa Teaching Hospital in Addis Ababa over a period of 18 months. Mean ages +/- S.D. of the IDDM, NIDDM, and controls were 35 +/- 9.9, 49.4 +/- 12.0, and 43.3 +/- 14.0 years, respectively. LJM was found in 44.5% of IDDM, 25.3% of NIDDM, and 6.7% of controls, being significantly commoner in IDDM than NIDDM (p less than 0.001) and in the diabetics than in controls (p less than 0.001). In IDDM those with LJM were significantly younger (p less than 0.05), had a higher prevalence of median fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of 15 mmol/l and above (p less than 0.01), and retinopathy (p less than 0.05), but did not differ from those without LJM in duration of diabetes, or prevalence of neuropathy and nephropathy. In NIDDM those with LJM had a significantly longer duration of diabetes (p less than 0.005) and a higher prevalence of nephropathy (p less than 0.005), but did not differ from those without LJM in age at onset of diabetes, prevalence of neuropathy, and retinopathy or median FBG level.