The Association Between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Frozen Shoulder: Expert Insights on Developing a Screening Tool

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with various musculoskeletal disorders, including frozen shoulder (FS), a condition marked by pain and restricted movement. FS is more common in T2DM patients, with increased severity and longer recovery time. Chronic inflammation, collagen accumulation, and hyperglycemia-induced changes contribute to FS development in T2DM limiting daily activities and may hinder diabetes management by restricting self-care tasks. Early detection and timely intervention may improve outcomes and enhance quality of life. Existing shoulder assessment questionnaires are often lengthy, complex, and require physician intervention, limiting their use in routine practice. To address this, a concise, patient-administered screening questionnaire has been proposed for patients with T2DM. This six-question tool covers shoulder pain, movement limitations, and sleep disruption, thus potentially offering a quick, effective method for early FS screening in routine practice settings. Further validation in real-world settings will assess the clinical utility of this screening tool.