The Musculoskeletal Complications of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a progressive metabolic disorder with increasing global prevalence and a wide variety of complications. While clinical attention focuses mostly on its vascular pathologies, musculoskeletal disorders remain under-recognized and poorly managed. This review provides an overview of musculoskeletal complications associated with both type 1 and 2 diabetes, including bone fragility, Charcot neuroarthropathy, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, osteoarthritis, adhesive capsulitis, diabetic amyotrophy, and diabetic muscle infarction. The pathophysiology of these conditions is complex, involving impaired glucose levels, insulin resistance, accumulation of advanced glycation end-products, chronic inflammation process, and vascular changes. Preventive strategies, early diagnosis, and adjusted management are crucial to mitigate the impact of these complications on diabetic patients, their mobility, and quality of life. This article aims to highlight the importance of musculoskeletal complications and raise awareness of the significance of integrated management of diabetes. Objective: This review aims to describe several musculoskeletal complications of diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: A review of the available literature from the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases published within the last 20 years.