Diabetes and Functional Impairment in Osteoarthritis: Investigating Correlations, Associations, and Progression

Introduction Diabetes and osteoarthritis (OA) are prevalent chronic conditions, often occurring concurrently and complicating patient management. While the individual impact of each condition on functional impairment is well documented, their combined effect remains poorly understood. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between diabetes and OA-related functional impairment. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study of 290 participants with unilateral knee OA. Their demographic, clinical, and diabetes data were collected. Functional impairment was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index-Center for Rheumatic Diseases (WOMAC-CRD). Statistical analyses investigated the relationships between diabetes, OA severity, and functional impairment. Result Diabetic participants showed significantly worse physical function and overall disability, with lower WOMAC-CRD scores. Mean WOMAC-CRD pain scores were 6.46 (SD = 1.088) and 6.48 (SD = 1.101) for the diabetic and non-diabetic groups, respectively. Mean WOMAC-CRD stiffness scores were 6.48 (SD = 1.101) and 6.56 (SD = 1.083) for diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Diabetic participants had a mean WOMAC-CRD physical function score of 55.93 (SD = 2.484), compared to 64.02 (SD = 2.542) for non-diabetic participants. The mean total WOMAC score was 68.80 (SD = 2.857) for diabetic participants and 77.06 (SD = 2.933) for non-diabetic participants. Longer diabetes duration correlated negatively with physical function and total WOMAC scores. Discussion The findings suggest that diabetes exacerbates functional impairment in OA patients, particularly affecting physical function and overall disability. Chronic inflammation and the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products may contribute to the observed deterioration in joint function. Conclusion Integrated management strategies addressing both diabetes and OA are essential for optimizing patient care.