Cheiroarthropathy and tendinopathy in diabetes

Joint problems commonly occur in people with diabetes. Cheiroarthropathy affects the hands and results in painless limited finger joint extension, appearing to be associated with longer diabetes duration and the presence of microvascular complications. The prevalence of cheiroarthropathy seems to be falling, perhaps as a result of improvements in glycaemic management. Non-enzymatic glycation of collagen results in abnormally crosslinked protein resistant to degradation with subsequent increased build-up of collagen in joints. The management of cheiroarthropathy is predominantly conservative, with occupational and hand therapy at the forefront. Tendinopathy is more common in people with diabetes than those without, and is associated with obesity and insulin resistance. As with cheiroarthropathy, the exact causative mechanism of tendinopathy in diabetes is not known, but may be linked to inflammation, apoptosis and increased vascularity of affected tendons, driven by hyperinsulinaemia. Local fat pads have also been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of tendinopathy.