Have you ever had trouble moving your shoulder because it felt stiff and painful? That might be something called “frozen shoulder.”
It often starts with a little pain and gets worse over time. In the end, the shoulder can become so stiff that even reaching for a cup or getting dressed can be very hard.
Now, there’s new and important information for people who have diabetes. A study from Keele University in the UK found that people with diabetes are almost four times more likely to get frozen shoulder than those without diabetes. This shows one more reason why it’s important to manage diabetes well.
The study was led by Brett Paul Dyer. Instead of using just one study, the team looked at data from eight different studies. This gave them a more complete picture.
Out of the eight studies, six included 5,388 people in total. The results showed that people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were 3.69 times more likely to get frozen shoulder than people without diabetes.
To make sure this link was strong, the researchers also looked at two studies that followed people over time. These studies found the same thing—people with diabetes had a higher risk of frozen shoulder.
Still, there were some problems in the studies. For example, some didn’t explain how they chose the people in the study. Others didn’t consider other health problems that might affect the results. So while the results aren’t perfect, they still show a strong link between diabetes and frozen shoulder.
What does this mean for someone with diabetes? It means you should watch out for shoulder pain or stiffness. If your shoulder starts hurting or feels stiff for more than a few weeks, tell your doctor. The sooner frozen shoulder is treated, the better. Waiting too long can lead to more pain and a longer time to get better.
Doctors can also learn from this. They can ask people with diabetes about shoulder pain during regular visits. A simple question could lead to early treatment and less suffering.
We don’t yet know exactly why diabetes raises the risk of frozen shoulder. One idea is that high blood sugar might hurt some tissues or cause swelling in the joints. But more research is needed to be sure.
In the meantime, people with diabetes should keep taking care of their health. This means managing blood sugar, going to the doctor regularly, and paying attention to any new health changes. Shoulder pain might not seem serious at first, but if it lasts or gets worse, it’s important to speak up.
There are also other studies about living better with diabetes. For example, some research suggests that flaxseed oil may help with blood sugar control, and new medicines are being tested to protect the kidneys.
Studies like the one on frozen shoulder help people and doctors understand more about how to stay healthy with diabetes.
The frozen shoulder study was published in BMJ Open. It gives doctors and patients one more clue. Knowing the signs early and getting help quickly can make a big difference.
If you care about blood sugar, please read studies about why blood sugar is high in the morning, and how to cook sweet potatoes without increasing blood sugar.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about 9 unhealthy habits that damage your brain, and results showing this stuff in cannabis may protect aging brain, treat Alzheimer’s.
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