People who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at greater risk for hip injuries than people who don’t have diabetes, according to a 2007 study published in Osteoporosis International. For people managing diabetes, osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to weaken and become brittle, often takes a back seat when it comes to other diabetes complications (e.g., blindness, kidney disease, heart disease or even leg amputation). But diabetes plays a stronger role in bone and joint health and may cause bone brittleness. Take this quiz to see how much you know about the role diabetes plays in bone and joint disorders.
Q
1. In addition to diabetic neuropathy, having diabetes increases your risk for which of the following bone/joint disorders?
A. Ankylosing spondylitis
B. Charcot syndrome
C. Rickett’s disease
D. Multiple sclerosis
2. Which of the following conditions can affect mobility of the fingers and hand in people who have diabetes?
A. Carpal tunnel syndrome
B. Peripheral neuropathy
C. Diabetic hand syndrome
D. Tourette’s syndrome
3. People who have which form of diabetes are at greater risk for osteoporosis?
A. Type 1 diabetes mellitus
B. Bronze diabetes
C. Diabetes insipidus
D. Monogenic diabetes
4. Which of the following traits may increase the risk for osteoarthritis in a person who has Type 2 diabetes?
A. They are likely to be taking a water pill called hydrochlorothiazide, which increases the risk for osteoporosis.
B. They are more likely to be overweight, which puts stress on the joints.
C. Since they’re more likely to be overweight, their muscles are weaker and unable to support their joints.
D. They are more likely to have inflammation.
5. Which of the following is a diabetes-related condition in which one or more of your fingers may bend towards your palm?
A. Heberden’s nodes
B. Phalyngitis
C. Polydactylism
D. Dupuytren’s contracture
A
1. B. Diabetes increases the risk for developing Charcot syndrome. According the Mayo Clinic, the condition is also known as neuropathic arthropathy. While the cause is not always clear, the condition appears to be brought on by nerve damage and is indicated by signs such as warm, red and/or swollen joints. Charcot syndrome primarily affects the feet, and people who have the syndrome may lose the ability to control the action in their feet.
2. C. People who have had diabetes for a long period of time may develop diabetic hand syndrome, or cheiroarthropathy. If you have this condition, your hand may develop a waxy texture and appear thicker. According the Mayo Clinic, you may lose the ability to fully stretch out your fingers or press your palms together if you have this condition.
3. A. People who have Type 1 diabetes tend to have low bone density, according to the National Institutes of Health. The pancreas produces insulin, but when cells that produce insulin become damaged, as in the case of people who have Type 1 diabetes, the body cannot produce enough insulin to function properly. The amount of insulin in the body affects various bodily functions, including encouraging bones to grow and become strong.
4. B. Being overweight is a greater risk factor for developing osteoarthritis in people who have Type 2 diabetes than having Type 2 diabetes itself. According to a 2016 review article, approximately 80 percent of people who have Type 2 diabetes are either overweight or obese.
5. D. Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition in which you lose the ability to fully straighten one or more of your fingers. According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition typically occurs in people who have had diabetes for a long time.
Want to learn more about diabetes and bone and joint disorders? Read “Thawing Out That Frozen Shoulder,” “Diabetes and Bone Health” and “Boost Your Bone Health.”
