Rheumatic manifestations of diabetes mellitus.

An epidemic of diabetes is currently raging in the US and developed countries, and is affecting almost 10% of the US population. The association between several rheumatic disorders and diabetes mellitus is gaining attention, and with recent data showing that more than 30% of patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have some hand or shoulder diseases, the magnitude of this problem is becoming more evident. Although some syndromes are observed exclusively in patients with diabetes, the majority of the rheumatic diseases found in patients with diabetes are also seen in the non-diabetes population, albeit at a much lower prevalence. The exact mechanisms by which the specific metabolic abnormalities of diabetes impact on the pathogenesis of its rheumatic manifestations are not clear. Further studies are needed to better understand the role of diabetes on the development of these disorders.