Hand abnormalities of the patients with diabetes mellitus.

Hand abnormalities, represented by Dupuytren's contracture, limited joint mobility, carpal tunnel syndrome, flexor tenosynovitis,occur in approximately 50% of the diabetic patients, affecting their activity and decreasing the quality of their life. Using specific methods, these can by detected long before they are observed by the patients. These disturbances have a high prevalence inthe persons with long diabetes mellitus duration, the prevalence increasing with the age. Smoking, usual hard activities, bad metabolic control and so on, can increase the severity of these disturbances. It is compulsory a careful examination of the patients' hands, because more abnormalities can be surgically rightened.