Complications of Diabetes Can Cause Tendon Damage

Contents:

Medical Video: Can diabetes cause heel pain ? | Health Facts for all

If you have diabetes and often complain of pain while moving, it could be because your tendon is damaged. The tendon itself is a collection of soft tissue that connects muscle tissue to bones. So, why can diabetes cause tendon damage? See the full review in this article.

This is an explanation of why diabetes can cause tendon damage

Tendon damage in type 1 and 2 diabetes occurs because of one substance called Advenced Glycation End Products (AGE), which is a substance that forms when protein and fat mix with sugar in your bloodstream.

Normally the body will produce AGE slowly and stably. However, if you have diabetes, the extra sugar contained in your blood actually speeds up the production of AGE which can eventually affect your tendon.

The tendon itself is made of protein called collagen. While this AGE substance forms a bond with collagen which can change the structure of the tendon and affect its function properly. If this happens, your tendon will thicken compared to normal conditions. As a result, the tendon can't hold the load as much as it used to.

Here are some tendon problems that you might experience if your diabetes is not well controlled:

  • Shoulder pain(frozen shoulder). This condition is painful which makes you unable to move your shoulders, so that the range of motion of the shoulder becomes very limited. The reason is because the capsule that surrounds the tendons and ligaments in the part of your shoulder has thickening, swelling and tightening resulting in stiffness and pain.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome. Conditions that make your fingers experience a sensation of tingling, numbness, pain, and weak handheld power. The symptoms often increase if the hand is rotated or moved. This condition occurs because the median nerve is compressed or squeezed.
  • Dupuytren contract. A condition in which tissue under the skin creates a kind of thick thread that can pull one or more fingers bent inward. Often the dupuytren contracture attacks the sweet and pinky line. If it is not immediately treated, your hands will become difficult to use and can even cause disability.

Damage to the tendon is so painful that it can prevent you from moving and doing daily activities. In fact, if you have done surgery to repair damaged tendons, the tendon can tear and experience damage again. Research shows that more than a third of people with diabetes who undergo surgery to repair tendon damage may experience further damage later on.

So how do you prevent this condition?

The best way to avoid the problem of tendon tendons is to control your diabetes. Control your blood sugar with the help of diet, exercise, and discipline in taking medicines that your doctor has prescribed.

Not only that, if you have excess weight, try to reduce your weight to be more ideal. In addition to reducing the pressure on your tendon, having an ideal body weight will also improve your overall health.

However, if you have already experienced tendon damage, the doctor will usually provide treatment that includes:

  • Giving painkillers or muscle relaxants.
  • Physical therapy and exercise that suits your needs.
  • Use a splint, a type of aid used to support and help restore broken, dislocated or muscular limbs.
  • Your doctor may also suggest injecting steroids into your joints that have problems to reduce tendon pain. However, you must understand if steroids can cause a surge in blood sugar levels in the short term. That is why, ask your doctor first whether the benefits of this treatment outweigh the risks or not.
Complications of Diabetes Can Cause Tendon Damage
Rated 4/5 based on 1398 reviews
💖 show ads