Decreased muscle mass in type-2 diabetes. A hidden comorbidity to consider

Objectives: an expert report is presented on the situation of loss of muscle mass in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with a proposal of what the clinical approach to this comorbidity should be, based on the evidence from the literature and clinical experience. Method: a qualitative expert opinion study was carried out using the nominal approach. A literature search on diabetes and muscle was made and submitted to a multidisciplinary group of 7 experts who through a face-to-face meeting discussed different aspects of the role of muscle mass in T2DM.Results: muscle mass must be taken into account in the clinical context of patients with T2DM. It has an enormous impact on patient function and quality of life, and is as important as adequate metabolic control of T2DM.Conclusion: in addition to drug therapy and diet adjustments, aerobic and strength activities are essential for maintaining muscle mass and function in diabetic patients. In concrete situations, artificial oral supplementation specific for muscle care could improve the situation of mal-nutrition and low muscle mass. Measures such as the walking speed test, chair test, or the SARC-F questionnaire, together with the Barthel index, constitute a first step to diagnose relevant impairment requiring intervention in patients with T2DM. This document seeks to answer some questions about the importance, assessment, and control of muscle mass in T2DM.