Frozen shoulder more common in people with diabetes

People with diabetes face a significantly greater risk of suffering from ‘frozen shoulder’, a painful condition which affects movement of the shoulder.
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis or shoulder contracture, develops when the flexible tissue that surrounds the shoulder joint (the shoulder capsule) becomes inflamed and thickened. The shoulder joint gradually loses mobility until it becomes immobile or completely ‘frozen’.
There are a number of things that increase the risk of developing a frozen shoulder, and this includes having diabetes as high sugar levels in the blood can affect the shoulder capsule.
In fact, recent US studies showed that diabetes patients are up to 5 times more likely to develop the condition compared to non-diabetics.
The symptoms of frozen shoulder include sharp pain, stiffness, and lack of mobility in the shoulder. Symptoms usually progress gradually over a number of months or years.
For people with diabetes who begin to experience these symptoms, maintaining good blood glucose control can help halt the progression of frozen shoulder.