Musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs) can interfere with the use of technology as frozen shoulder (FS) alters the mobility required for flash glucose monitoring (FGM) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), trigger finger (TF) or tendinitis (TEN) impair the dexterity which is necessary to manage CSII. We analyzed the prevalence and consequences of MSKDs.
Clinical data were collected over 20 months in a French outpatient facility, from the charts of consecutive patients with T1D for 20 years or more. Complications included diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and CVD.
Among 80 patients (men: 50%, age: 51.5±13.7 years, diabetes duration: 32.4±9.8 years, HbA1c: 7.6±1.0%, FGM: 91.3%, CSII: 62.5%), 38 had no MSKD (MSKD-) and 42 (52.5%) had at least 1 MSKD (MSKD+) including 19 with only 1 MSKD (1MSKD) and 23 with at least 2 MSKDs (2+MSKDs).The most frequent MSKDs were FS (25.0%), TEN (23.8%), TF (20.0%), CTS (18.8%). Those MSKDs were often combined. The age at diagnosis of first MSKD was 45.0±9.8 years for 2+MSKDs, 50.3±11.9 years for 1MSKD. T1D complications (prevalence 61.3%) were present in respectively 42.1%, 68.4% and 87.0% of MSKD-, 1MSKD and 2+MSKDs patients. The use of FGM in those patients was respectively: 97.4%, 89.5% and 82.6%, the use of CSII: 71.1%, 68.4% and 43.5%.
MSKDs are very frequent in patients with long-standing T1D. Diagnosis at a younger age could mean a higher risk for 2+MSKDs. MSKD+ patients seem to use technology less frequently. Large prospective studies should now focus on this understudied T1D complication.