Diabetes mellitus | Physiotherapy for hormonal, endocrine joint diseases

Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is commonly known as diabetes. This is also a metabolic disease. The hormone insulin keeps the blood sugar level (the amount of sugar in the blood) continuously at about the same level in healthy people.

After ingestion, insulin ensures that the sugar is absorbed from the blood into the cells and is processed further to participate in metabolic processes. This process is disturbed in patients suffering from diabetes. There are two different types of insulin.

In both cases, the sugar remains in the blood without being absorbed into the body cells for further processing. A common consequence of diabetes is damage to nerves and blood vessels, which are blocked by the sugar molecules and thus prevented from functioning properly. Painful inflammations in bones and joints develop, as well as an increased breakdown of bone substance, which in the long run leads to osteoporosis.

  • Diabetes type 1 is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body destroys its own cells. In this case the cells that produce insulin.
  • In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas (which produces insulin) is overstrained for a long time until it can no longer produce enough insulin.

Further measures

As already described, various supportive applications are suitable in physiotherapy for the symptomatic treatment of hormone-related joint diseases. Depending on the aim of the treatment, these include

  • Electrotherapeutic measures
  • Ultrasonic applications, thermotherapy,
  • Tape systems for lowering the schematic
  • As well as all other measures that relieve pain and reduce tension

Summary

Metabolic rheumatic diseases affecting the hormonal and endocrine system, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism, not only affect organs and metabolic processes, but also the structures of the musculoskeletal system. This results in bone and joint pain, restricted movement, nerve conduction disorders and muscular tension. The underlying disease cannot be treated by physiotherapy, but the respective symptoms are individually addressed, which not only alleviate them, but also prevent further rapid progression.