Yes, diabetes can lead to a long-term complication known as trigger finger. This is a result of inflammation in the tendons that enable you to flex and bend your fingers and thumb. It can be painful and make it difficult to move, straighten, or use your fingers.

People with diabetes who experience finger stiffness and pain may have trigger finger, a common issue that’s now recognized as a possible long-term complication of diabetes.

This can appear similar to arthritis in the fingers and thumbs, and may in some ways resemble diabetes-related nerve damage. But trigger finger, or stenosing tenosynovitis, brings a unique set of symptoms.

These may include more than just stiffness, as it may cause a finger to become stuck in a curled position or too painful to move around or use in everyday tasks.

Trigger finger is the result of inflammation in the tendons that enable you to flex and bend your fingers and your thumb. It not only limits your ability to move, straighten, and use your fingers for even the simplest of daily tasks, but it can also be painful.

The tendons are basically ropes that move and pull your fingers down into a fist. Those tendons enter a very narrow tunnel at the base of each finger, and this tunnel functions much like a pulley system.

Without this tunnel-like system, the tendons on your fingers would actually pull away and bow from your fingers instead of tightening against them.

When the tendon is rubbing, it curves into that tunnel. And over time, the tunnel narrows and thickens, like a callus that’s been forming over the course of many years.

Not everyone develops trigger finger gradually through that sequence of events. Some people simply wake up one morning and suddenly have a locked finger.

A condition that’s not discussed often, trigger finger is more common in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes than those without diabetes.

Research shows the following risk factors associated with developing this complication:

  • People with diabetes are more likely to develop trigger finger than those without the condition, and the symptoms may be more severe.
  • The risk is correlated with the number of years you’ve lived with diabetes, not your blood sugar levels.
  • Women at birth may be more likely than men to develop trigger finger.
  • Trigger finger develops most commonly in your 40s and 50s, but can develop earlier.
  • The order of fingers most commonly affected is ring finger, thumb, middle finger, pointer (or index), and pinky finger.

People with other conditions may also be more at risk for developing trigger finger. These might include:

Research points to both higher blood sugars and A1C, along with the length of time you’ve lived with diabetes, as the main risk indicators of developing trigger finger.

It’s not clear what the exact relationship is between diabetes and this condition.

However, remember that healthy blood sugar levels still have a tremendous impact on the overall health and function of your fingers.

For those with diabetes, trigger finger symptoms are the same as they would be for someone without the condition. These can range in severity and how they develop, but there are common characteristics you may notice:

Catching signs of a trigger finger in one or many of your fingers is critical in preventing it from worsening and requiring surgery.

Symptoms may include:

  • a clicking noise or snapping sound when you move that finger
  • finger may get stuck in a curled position (like when you’re pulling a trigger) forcing you to physically unbend
  • any degree of stiffness, or inability to bend or flex a finger normally
  • consistent soreness or ache at the base of your finger or thumb
  • a small lump or bump at the base of your finger or thumb
  • stiffening knuckles and joints
  • swollen fingers
  • fingers may bend or move together, rather than each individual one operating individually
  • pain when trying to move or use a finger or thumb

There are different ways to treat and manage trigger finger, depending on how severe your symptoms may be.

  • Light flexing
  • Regular physical therapy to stretch and exercise the affected finger or thumb.
  • Wearing a splint on the affected finger or thumb to essentially keep it straightened for a prolonged period of time, along with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs.
  • Steroid injection(s) into the site of the affected finger or thumb. The success rates for injections may be lower for those with diabetes, but they’re still recommended as a starting point.

Even if you’re only experiencing mild stiffness in your fingers or thumb in the morning, it’s important to see a hand specialist, rather than dismiss its significance because the stiffness dissipates as the day goes on.

Surgery to manually release the affected finger or thumb.

This type of surgery has a high success rate generally, but research shows that people with diabetes can experience more complications from this release surgery, and it may be less effective overall.

The most effective treatment method is surgery — also referred to as “trigger finger release” — and is one of the most common surgeries a hand surgeon performs.

Much like walking every day to keep your knees lubricated, forcing your affected fingers to move every day increases the success rate of surgery or other treatment options.

Trigger finger can be a painful issue in the hands, especially for those with diabetes who may experience it more frequently the longer they have the condition.

There are ways to help manage diabetes and reduce the risk of developing trigger finger.

For those who experience the complication, a number of methods exist to manage and treat the condition. This can include physical therapy and hand flexes. You may also need steroid injections and possible trigger finger release surgery to address more severe trigger finger symptoms.