Annie Kilsby
Penola, South Australia
Yes, there is a connection between frozen shoulder and diabetes. Frozen shoulder leads to pain at the tip of the shoulder that restricts movement and then limits the movement because of fibrosis. It appears that in diabetes, certain compounds accumulate in the linings of joints in the collagen. The collagen fibers then stick together and limit the capacity for the joint and ligaments to stretch with movement. Ultimately this ends up as a frozen shoulder.
Several drugs are being developed for the treatment of frozen shoulder. One such compound is able to prevent the tendon shortening that occurs in rats with diabetes. This compound has not yet reached the market. In the meantime, you should use stretching, anti-inflammatory drugs, injections of local steroids and anesthetic agents judiciously.
