Limited finger joint mobility, Dupuytren's contracture, and the complications of diabetes were assessed in 233 Type 2 diabetic patients. Limited joint mobility was present in 34% and Dupytren's contracture in 26%. The prevalence of limited joint mobility and Dupuytren's contracture increased with duration of diabetes and with age. Logistic regression analysis showed that, after allowing for age and duration of diabetes, limited joint mobility was independently associated with Dupuytren's contracture (odds ratio 5.7, 95% CI 2.0-16.4) and retinopathy (odds ratio 3.1, CI 1.5-6.4). Dupuytren's contracture was independently associated with vision-threatening retinopathy (odds ratio 2.6, CI 1.1-6.4), limited joint mobility (odds ratio 2.5, CI 1.3-4.8), and foot ulceration (odds ratio 4.9, CI 1.4-16.4). Both Dupuytren's contracture and limited joint mobility were associated with peripheral neuropathy but neither hand abnormality was associated with neuropathy independently of other complications of diabetes. The association of connective tissue abnormalities in the hand with the complications of diabetes suggests that similar factors may be contributing to their pathogenesis.