Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the U.S., with an estimated 38.4 million people of all ages (11.6% of the population) diagnosed with the condition in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control. While diabetes is popularly understood as an inability to control blood sugar levels, either because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body can’t use it properly, the disease is dangerous because soaring glucose levels can damage nearly every part of the body. That includes the back.
Impact Of Diabetes On The Human Body
Those with diabetes are frequently cautioned that the disease can harm their eyes, feet, nervous system, and cardiovascular system, but they may be unaware that having diabetes can also increase their risk of lower back pain. A systemic review published in PLOS One in 2019 analyzed data from people 18 years and older with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who had participated in studies investigating the association between neck and back pain outcomes and diabetes.
The review found that those with diabetes had a
35% higher chance of experiencing lower back pain.
Why should this be the case? And, more importantly, what can be done about it?
Understanding the Connection Between Diabetes and Lower Back Pain
To grasp why diabetic patients have a higher incidence of lower back pain, it’s essential to understand how the effects of the disease on the body can contribute to common causes of lower back pain. Issues include:
Diabetic neuropathy: When persistently high glucose levels damage the nerves, symptoms like tingling, numbness, or pain can result. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that up to one-half of those with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy, which primarily affects the legs and arms. This type of nerve damage can lead to chronic back pain.
Compromised bone health: Among the less well-known effects of diabetes is its impact on bone health. Elevated glucose levels damage collagen, the protein that provides structure and support in bone tissue. This can make diabetics more prone to fractures of all kinds, including fractures in the vertebrae. Research also shows that this increased fracture risk is compounded by an impaired ability to heal from such fractures, also a result of diabetes.
Obesity: Excess weight can turn into a vicious cycle in diabetes. Being overweight is a risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes, and poorly managed blood sugar levels can in turn cause increased weight gain. Over time, being overweight can contribute to back pain by putting increased strain on the spine as well as by making it more difficult to maintain a healthy level of physical activity.
Additional factors: Diabetes is also associated with other potential causes of lower back pain such as reduced blood flow to the muscles, inflammation of the cartilage, degeneration of the intervertebral discs, and spinal stenosis.
Treating Back Pain When You Have Diabetes
If you have diabetes and back pain is preventing you from being as active as you need to be to stay healthy, there are several ways you can reduce your discomfort. The most important thing to start with is to keep your blood sugar levels under control—this will help prevent further damage to the nerves or circulation that might be contributing to your pain.
Next, if you smoke, now is the time to quit. Smokers are nearly 3 times as likely to develop lower back pain than nonsmokers; in fact, while nicotine provides short-term pain relief, over time it seems to increase pain sensitivity, making chronic pain worse. Reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption is also a good idea. In addition to being bad for your blood sugar levels, it can cause muscle spasms or dehydration that ultimately make back pain worse.
Exercise is also important both for keeping diabetes in check and easing back pain. A sedentary lifestyle tends to exacerbate back pain over time, making it more difficult to get moving again. However, it can be hard to get started with even gentle stretches or a walk when you’re still struggling with pain.
If you’ve been unable to make positive changes in your activity level due to your back pain, gentle chiropractic treatment can help. At Divine Spine, our state-of-the-art chiropractic method uses precise, computerized adjustments to gently move the spine into alignment, alleviating pain. Our non-invasive treatment can help you get relief safely and comfortably so you can more effectively look after your overall health. We offer on-site X-rays as part of your initial exam to pinpoint the source of your pain and develop an individualized treatment plan without delays or additional frustrating runarounds.
To learn more about how you can break free of your diabetes-related back pain, contact Divine Spine here to schedule your initial consultation.