Diabetes
Hyperglycemia or increased blood sugar is the result of diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin. Diabetes is a common cause of trigger fingers. Recent reports show that diabetics, particularly those with long-term diabetes, have a lot of pain in their trigger fingers. In the general population, trigger fingers are between 2%-3%. However, they can reach up to 10% for diabetics. Patients with diabetes for a long time are also more likely to get trigger finger. In patients with persistently high blood sugar levels, the connective tissues are glycated. This means that an irreversible link is formed between glucose and proteins in the tissue. Hyperglycemia causes a cross-linking of collagen molecules, which leads to a buildup of collagen in the tendon sheath surrounding the flexor muscles. This increases the risk for trigger finger. Further research is being done to determine the main causes of trigger fingers related to diabetes.
