In 2006, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with 7.8 percent of the population diagnosed with diabetes in 2007. It is a manageable disease that can often be prevented and you may or may not have symptoms. Diabetes also can increase your risk for other serious health problems. You can avoid many complications by properly controlling your diabetes.
Identification
Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels. It results from the body's inability to produce or use insulin. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes can cause frequent thirst and urination, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss and extreme fatigue and irritability. Type 2 can cause the same symptoms as type 1 but also blurred vision, frequent infections, tingling or numbness in the extremities, cuts or bruise that are slow to heal and recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections.
Effect
Diabetic muscle infarction is a rare complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by painful, swollen muscles, usually presenting in the thigh. Onset is spontaneous and the muscle becomes hard. Diabetic muscle infarction tends to be localized and decreases range of motion as the pain increases with activity. It can persist for several weeks and resolve itself over several weeks to months. Recurrence on the same leg or the opposite leg is not uncommon, according to a 2000 study published in the "Iowa Orthopaedic Journal."
Risk Factors
Diabetic muscle infarction is often associated with nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy, which are complications of diabetes, according to the "British Medical Journal." It also is found with patients who have a history of poorly controlled diabetes with microvascular complications and with patients who are receiving dialysis. The 2000 study published in the "Iowa Orthopaedic Journal" discovered the average age of diabetic muscle infarction onset was 44 years old but that it occurs equally between men and women. There was no history of trauma or injections and most did not experience other symptoms such as fever, chills, night sweats or weight loss.
Treatment
Typical treatment is pain management with analgesics and restriction of activity, combined with gentle physical therapy. Stretching and exercises should not be performed, however, during acute phases. Other treatment includes bed rest and leg elevation. In some instances, surgical resection may be helpful, where the muscle involved is excised. Surgery generally is not advised, though, as it can cause future complications. Since poor control of diabetes is a risk factor, tighter diabetic control can help.
References
- PubMed Central: Diabetic Muscle Infarction
- "British Medical Journal": Diabetic Muscle Infarction
- Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: Diabetic Muscle Infarction in End-stage Renal Disease
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Basics
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: National Diabetes Statistics
