title: The Musculoskeletal Manifestations of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Kashmiri Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetes mellitus (DM), is affecting an ever increasing number of people worldwide. Diabetes is associated with several musculoskeletal manifestations. These may involve, the upper as well as the lower limb. We conducted this study to find out the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems in type 2 diabetics in the Kashmiri population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 403 patients with diabetes and 300 controls. All patients underwent screening for any musculoskeletal abnormalities. The patients with musculoskeletal abnormalities were further assessed to find the exact diagnosis according to predefined criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hand was involved in 80 patients [19.8%] in the diabetic group and 15 (5%) patients of the control group. The elbow was affected in 56 patients [14%] in the diabetic group and 24 patients [5.9%] in the non-diabetic group. The shoulder involvement was diagnosed in 61 patients [15%] on the diabetic cohort and 15 patients in the non-diabetic cohort. All the upper limb figures showed a statistically significant difference i.e. P value <0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of musculoskeletal complications in type 2 diabetics in Kashmir is quite high.
authors.affiliation: SKIMS MC Bemina Srinagar Kashmir India.
authors.forename: Tariq Ahmed
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: SKIMS MC Bemina Srinagar Kashmir India.
authors.forename: Shabir Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dhar
authors.affiliation: SKIMS MC Bemina Srinagar Kashmir India.
authors.forename: Tahir Ahmed
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.affiliation: SKIMS MC Bemina Srinagar Kashmir India.
authors.forename: Muzzaffar Ahmed
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Naikoo
authors.affiliation: SKIMS MC Bemina Srinagar Kashmir India.
authors.forename: Mubarik Ahmed
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Naqqash
authors.affiliation: SKIMS MC Bemina Srinagar Kashmir India.
authors.forename: Ajaz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: GMC Jammu India.
authors.forename: Mohammed Farooq
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Butt