Diabetic hands: a study on strength and function.

OBJECTIVE: To study hand strength and function in type 2 DM patients.

METHODS: We collected data on hand strength and function, disease duration, glycemic, creatinine and HbA1C levels, degree of pain and stiffness and physical examination in 100 DM patients comparing than with 100 hand osteoarthritis patients and 100 controls.

RESULTS: DM patients had hand strength and function better than osteoarthritis patients and worse than controls. De Quervain tendonitis associated with hand strength (p=0.005); hand function associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (p<0.0001), De Quervain tendinitis (p=0.006), HbA1C level (p=0.005), insulin use (p=0.030), disease duration (p=0.0006), pain (p<0.0001) and stiffness (p<0.0001) in univariated analysis. In multivariated analysis only disease duration and stiffness remain as significant.

CONCLUSION: Hand strength and function are impaired in DM patients. Loss of function associated with stiffness and disease duration; loss of strength associates with De Quervain tendinitis.