Journal article
Course of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Management in Patients With Diabetes
Journal of diabetes, Vol.17(12), e70180
12/2025
DOI: 10.1111/1753-0407.70180
PMCID: PMC12719237
PMID: 41423689
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
Background Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most prevalent compressive neuropathy, often worsened by microvasculopathy in diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients experience increased CTS risk but are frequently underdiagnosed. This study investigates the progression to CTS diagnosis and CT release (CTR) in DM patients, aimed at better early detection and CTS prevention. Methods Data including age and HbA1c from 304 patients with CTS, DM, and CTR (2012–2022) was collected from a tertiary care center. CTS–CTR time was compared between patients diagnosed with DM pre‐ or post‐CTS using Wilcoxon rank‐sum tests. Analyses were conducted using SAS v9.4. Relationships between age or HbA1c and CTS–CTR or DM–CTS timelines were described by Spearman correlation coefficients. Results 51% (n = 154) of patients received DM diagnosis post‐CTS identification. Time between diagnoses was similar in patients diagnosed with DM before vs. after CTS (24.6 (8.0–41.8), 24.3 (9.9–46.2) months, p = 0.604). From CTS to first CTR, the median time difference was 2.5 months (1.0–8.1) with no significant impact from DM diagnosis timing (before: 2.57, after: 2.20 months, p = 0.188). CTS–CTR time correlated with age (ρ $$ \rho $$ = −0.24, p < 0.001) and HbA1c (ρ $$ \rho $$ =−0.15, p = 0.002) at CTS diagnosis. No associations occurred with age or HbA1c at DM diagnosis (age: ρ $$ \rho $$ = 0.03, p = 0.660, HbA1c: ρ $$ \rho $$ = 0.00, p = 1.00). Conclusions Over half of CTR patients were diagnosed with DM before CTS, underscoring the urgency for assessing new DM patients for CTS symptoms. Future clinical programs should target early identification of CTS signs and optimal timing for surgical interventions to enhance patient well‐being. Summary 51% of patients in this study were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome before diabetes mellitus, indicating the importance of carpal tunnel screening early after new diabetes diagnoses. Future clinical programs should target early warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome along with diabetes mellitus and develop standards for early screening. 51% of patients in this study were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome before diabetes mellitus, indicating the importance of carpal tunnel screening early after new diabetes diagnoses. Future clinical programs should target early warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome along with diabetes mellitus and develop standards for early screening.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Course of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Management in Patients With Diabetes
- Creators
- Sophia Xiao - University of IowaIgnacio Garcia Fleury - University of Iowa, Orthopedics and RehabilitationNatalie Glass - University of IowaJoseph Buckwalter - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of diabetes, Vol.17(12), e70180
- DOI
- 10.1111/1753-0407.70180
- PMID
- 41423689
- PMCID
- PMC12719237
- NLM abbreviation
- J Diabetes
- ISSN
- 1753-0393
- eISSN
- 1753-0407
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 5
- Grant note
- National Institutes of Health University of Iowa Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (T35DK135446)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2025
- Academic Unit
- Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
- Record Identifier
- 9985096043302771
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