Diabetes and Shoulder Pain

Why Do People With Diabetes Have Increased Stiffness and Pain with Shoulder Injuries?

The standard theory trying to explain why people with diabetes experience more pain and stiffness from shoulder injuries has been related to the increase in sugar or increased glycosylation of the connective tissue. However, there have been studies that show that increased glycosylation or control of a diabetic patient’s blood sugar has no effect on changing the incidence of adhesive capsulitis in diabetic patients. What is behind the connection between diabetes and shoulder pain?

A study published in the November 2013 issue of the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow looked at the interleukin 1beta levels in the subacromial fluid of people with and without diabetes. Drs. Sui et al. found a statistically significant increase of interleukin 1beta levels in diabetic patients.

This research has opened the door for other studies looking at diabetes and shoulder pain. Future research will focus on determining if a reduction of the interleukin 1 beta levels will help reduce the amount of stiffness and pain that insulin diabetic patients experience with shoulder injuries.