The day to day routine of a midlife woman is charted based on the pyschoeconomic and the socioeconomic environment that surrounds her. The responsibility to take care of every minute activity paves the way to physical and mental stress which eventually leads to health decline during the midlife transition in women. Studies showed that there would be hormonal imbalances in women during this period and hence the probability of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) onset and associated complications. A recent report based on a study conducted on 4 racial/ethinic midlife women revealed that one of the midlife crisis women with T2D face is the higher degree musculoskeletal symptoms.

As mentioned earlier, diabetes and menopause transition may team up for various effects on the body, one of the major issue is the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms. The study included 164 participants aged 40-60 years who completed multiple questionnaires on background characteristics, health status, menopausal status, and musculoskeletal symptoms. The Musculoskeletal Symptom Index for Midlife Women was used to determine the number and severity of musculoskeletal symptoms. The data were analyzed using independent t tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and multiple regression analyses were used. The results showed that the mean number of musculoskeletal symptoms was significantly higher in women with type 2 diabetes than in women without type 2 diabetes as was the mean severity score. Also, it was observed that background characteristics, health status, and menopausal status were controlled, having diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was positively associated with the numbers and total severity scores of musculoskeletal symptoms.

The study findings contributed to significant associations of type 2 diabetes with musculoskeletal symptoms among midlife women. Hence women with musculoskeletal symptoms should be seen and evaluated for common and treatable syndrome to stay healthy and to avoid or lag the onset of T2D and its related complications. Further studies are recommended to confirm relationships in larger populations.