Rare Diabetic Complications: A Case of Diabetic Myonecrosis

Diabetic myonecrosis, also referred to as diabetic muscle infarction, is a rare complication of uncontrolled diabetes that is characterized by spontaneous ischemia of muscle tissues, which can lead to severe pain. This condition can occur in type 1 and type 2 diabetics, most often involving the thigh or calf muscles, with the majority of literature being case reports with a few systematic reviews due to its rarity. We present a case of a 41-year-old male with severely uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and three weeks of worsening left calf pain, elevated inflammatory markers, and myonecrosis on MRI, who was found to have probable diabetic myonecrosis and was treated with rest, pain control, and aspirin with significant clinical improvement. As diabetic myonecrosis is a rare condition and is not often considered in the differential, there is potential for misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of this condition. Our case report will add to the body of literature regarding this rare condition, which could increase clinician awareness of the condition, provide guidance for work-up and treatment, and contribute to future research.