Association Between Osteoarthritis and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes mellitus are two common chronic illnesses that significantly strain healthcare systems around the globe. Given the possible synergistic effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus and osteoarthritis on metabolism and joint health, their comorbidity is a significant problem, particularly in people who are overweight or obese. The aim of our study was to assess and examine the literature regarding the prevalence, association, symptoms, physical function, and shared risk factors of T2DM and OA. Osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes mellitus are both characterised by chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, which is crucial to their development. We conducted a critical review of the literature to explore the association between T2DM and OA, whether any association is site-specific for OA, and whether the presence of T2DM impacts on OA outcomes. Furthermore, we found that common risk variables, such as metabolic syndromes and demography, may influence the relationship between DM and OA; however, more study is needed on this topic as well. Extensive future study is required to properly determine the effect of chronic medication usage, as there is conflicting information regarding whether medication use contributes positively or negatively to the connection between DM and OA.