Have you ever heard of a “frozen shoulder”? It’s a condition where your shoulder becomes very painful and stiff, making it hard or even impossible to move.
A new study from Keele University in the UK, led by researcher Brett Paul Dyer, found that people with diabetes are almost four times more likely to get frozen shoulder compared to those without diabetes. This includes both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The researchers didn’t just guess. They looked at eight different studies that explored the link between diabetes and frozen shoulder.
In six of those studies, which included 5,388 people, they found that those with diabetes were 3.69 times more likely to have this painful shoulder condition. They also checked two other studies that followed people over time and found the same connection.
However, there’s a small warning. Most of the studies they looked at—seven out of eight—might have some bias. This means that the results, while strong, may not be fully reliable. Still, the numbers suggest there is a real link that’s worth paying attention to.
So what does this mean in everyday life? If you’re a doctor, it means you should be extra careful with patients who have diabetes. During regular check-ups, it could be helpful to ask them if they’ve had any shoulder pain. Catching frozen shoulder early can make treatment easier and help the person recover faster.
If you have diabetes, this is something to keep an eye on. While not everyone with diabetes will get a frozen shoulder, the chances are higher. If you start feeling pain or stiffness in your shoulder, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
In short, this research tells us that people with diabetes should watch out for frozen shoulder. It also reminds doctors to ask about shoulder pain when treating diabetic patients.
More research is needed to understand exactly why this happens and how to stop it, but for now, regular check-ups and paying attention to new pain are the best steps.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about the cooking connection between potatoes and diabetes, and low calorie diets may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
For more health information, please see recent studies about protein power: a new ally in diabetes management, and pineapple and diabetes: A sweet surprise.
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