"...carpal tunnel syndrome is fifteen times more common in people with diabetes than in the general population." Says Anne Kramer, in an article on ergonomics and the work place.
At first glance, this is depressing news. It seems to be a clear case of "when it rains it pours." But there may be some helpful ways to use this information.
One helpful element would be to use this link as a possible red flag. If you have symptoms of one of these problems, test for the other and you may derive a benefit in the form of early detection and treatment. A lot of people have diabetes that has not been diagnosed. Getting checked out for diabetes when you go in regarding a sore wrist might save more than your pitching arm. Early and effective management of diabetes can extend the length of life and improve its quality greatly.
Another benefit of this link might be an alternate method for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. If it is diabetes related, the aggressive treatment of diabetes, or reversing type 2 diabetes through diet and exercise might reduce the carpal tunnel symptoms to the point that surgery becomes unnecessary. I have not heard of this as a treatment, but if the link exists, it makes sense to give curing your diabetes the best shot possible and seeing if there is an improvement in the carpal tunnel area. Diabetes is known to affect feelings in the feet and other extremities. It is not too much of a stretch to imagine that diabetes may be adding to wrist discomfort as well.
Yes, the diabetes/carpal tunnel link is bad news. But it is bad news you can use to hear better news in the future.
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