Does Diabetes Mellitus Affect Tendon Healing?

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder resulting from defective insulin production and characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. DM affects around 170 million people worldwide and its incidence is increasing globally. DM can cause a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders such as painful tendinopathies, tendon contracture, tendon rupture, and rotator cuff tear.In patients with diabetes neuropathy, diminished peripheral blood flow and decreased local angiogenesis are reported which probably are results of abnormalities in the production of collagen production, inflammatory mediators, angiogenic and growth factors and also contribute to lack of healing in damaged tissue. Abnormal or delayed wound healing is one of the main complications of both type-I and type-II DM.

Keywords: Cytokines; Diabetes mellitus; Growth factors; Tendon; Wound healing.