Type 2 diabetes is a common condition, with 1 in 10 people over the age of 4 0 living with the diagnosis in the UK.
However, many people might not know they have the condition, as the symptoms can be missed and might not make you feel unwell.
According to Express online , one surprising symptom could lead to an earlier diagnosis; the constantly high blood sugar levels caused by the body's poor insulin production can affect different parts of the body, including the shoulder.
Frozen shoulder (or adhesive capsulitis) occurs when ligaments around the shoulder joint swell and become stiff.
The painful symptoms can last anywhere from a few weeks to many years, according to Diabetes.co.uk .
Research by the global diabetes health site also found that people with diabetes are up to twice as likely to suffer from frozen shoulder.
"[Medical experts] report this is due to effects on collagen in the shoulder, which holds the bones together in a joint," explains the health site.
"Collagen can become sticky if sugar molecules become attached, resulting in movement being restricted and the shoulder beginning to stiffen. This process is known as glycosylation.
"Poorly-controlled diabetes has long been linked to muscular and skeletal problems, with consistently high blood sugars likely to increase the risk of complications such as frozen shoulder."
How to treat frozen shoulder
According to the NHS website , there are three main treatments for frozen shoulder.
- Pain relief
Avoid shoulder movements that cause pain. Use paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain. - Stronger pain and swelling relief
Prescribed painkillers or steroid injections can help manage the painful symptoms - Shoulder exercises
Gentle exercises at home or with a physiotherapist can help you get movement back in your arm.
The earlier you recognise the symptoms of type 2 diabetes and diagnose the condition, the better; it can cause irreversible complications - such as heart disease - if left untreated.
