Diabetic Frozen Shoulders

Frozen shoulders are a common finding in people with diabetes. Additionally, people with diabetes are often less likely to completely recover as well from the condition as non-diabetics.

It may be logical to consider the possibility that low magnesium intake may be a root causative factor in both conditions. I personally have had a frozen shoulder, diabetes runs in my family and I have had past issues with insulin resistance, an often pre-diabetic condition. I think that low magnesium levels may have been why my shoulder froze up and I developed insulin resistance, and that diet changes were helpful in reversing both conditions.

Based on the results of two major studies, the American Diabetes Association currently advocates diets high in magnesium to lower diabetes risk. The major studies they based this recommendation on are:

• Magnesium Intake and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Men and Women - the results of this study indicated a significant inverse association between diabetes and magnesium intake, i.e. the more magnesium rich foods people ate, the less likely they were to develop diabetes. As a result, the study authors recommend that to avoid diabetes people consume more foods high in magnesium such as nuts, whole grains, and leafy green vegetable. (I'm personally not a fan of whole grains, but I think consuming more nuts and green veggies are a good idea for most people. Most types of beans are also usually a good source of magnesium, too.)
  
  
• Dietary Magnesium Intake in Relation to Plasma Insulin Levels and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women - researchers from this study found that high intakes of magnesium reduced a person's chances of developing diabetes. This was especially true for overweight women.

Research shows that magnesium protects against diabetes and it is also the main nutrient needed to relax muscles. When shoulders are frozen in place, it is often because the muscles have become tight and knotted. Perhaps not coincidentally, people with diabetes not only get frozen shoulders, but they also are more likely to have fibromyalgia, another condition often linked to low levels of magnesium.

Heart disease and diabetes are also linked. In fact , according to The American Diabetes Association, 2 out of 3 people with diabetes die from heart disease and stroke. A number of studies have linked magnesium deficiency to heart disease, and heart disease is less common in areas with hard, magnesium rich water. The chart below shows the similarities between magnesium deficiency and diabetes.

Perhaps many of the the symptoms medical professionals attribute to diabetes may more logically be attributed to magnesium deficiency. It might may actually make more sense to view diabetes as one of the possible symptoms of a magnesium deficiency, instead of viewing diabetes as the main malady.

As of this writing, my once frozen shoulder now has a normal range of motion, my fibromyalgia has diminished and I no longer have insulin resistance. I think that improving my diet, especially eating more magnesium rich foods, was one of the major factors that helped.

Related sections of interest:

Frozen Shoulders - alternative treatment tips

Exercises and yoga postures for frozen shoulders - what worked for me.

The links between diabetes and fibromyalgia.

Magnesium - a deficiency of this important mineral can lead to many adverse health conditions.