title: Frequency of hand and shoulder symptoms in patients with type 1 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the frequency of joint symptoms in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus and to determine the subset of patients at risk of developing these symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We invited patients with Type 1 diabetes to complete a survey in which upper limb joint symptoms were scored using a composite of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index and a visual analogue scale. Family or friends of the participants, without diabetes, completed control surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 131 patients and 79 age- and sex-matched control subjects completed the surveys. Patients with Type 1 diabetes had higher composite symptom scores than did the control subjects [median (range) score 25 (0-208) vs. 12 (0-145); P < 0.001]. Patients with long-standing diabetes had significantly higher median (range) scores than those with diabetes of shorter duration [diabetes >30 years: 63(0-208), 15-30 years: 46(0-168), diabetes <15 years: 17(0-143)]. Patients with diabetic nephropathy had higher scores than those without [median (range) score 103 (0-173) vs. 22 (0-208); P = 0.007 between groups]. Neither blood glucose control nor age at diagnosis predicted higher scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Upper limb joint symptoms occur with greater frequency in patients with Type 1 diabetes. Longer duration of disease is the best predictor of symptoms. Blood glucose control does not appear to be associated with development of symptoms.
authors: Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Y R
authors: YR
authors: Raje
authors: Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Cracknell
authors: Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Davoren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006225:Hand; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012782:Shoulder
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human