Understanding How Diabetes Can Lead to Spinal Disc Degeneration

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Over 500 million people in the world have diabetes, a condition where your body can’t use insulin like it should.

You may already know that diabetes puts you at risk for many severe health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage, and dementia. 

But what you may not know is that many people living with diabetes complain of chronic back pain, and oftentimes, spinal disc degeneration — or degenerative disc disease — is to blame. 

Managing your diabetes is key to preventing various health complications, and understanding how diabetes affects your body and how to protect your health are important components of this process.

So, Don Enty, MD, and the rest of our spinal health experts at Genesis Pain and Regenerative Medicine in Colleyville, Texas, are taking a look at how diabetes affects your spine and what to do about it in this month’s blog. 

Diabetes and your health 

When you’re living with diabetes, your body either can’t make enough insulin or can’t respond properly to insulin, a hormone that transports glucose (blood sugar) to its destination. Without insulin, glucose builds up in your bloodstream and leads to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Part of effective diabetes management is keeping your blood sugar levels down. If your blood sugar levels are left unchecked, it puts you at risk for heart attack, stroke, neuropathy, hearing loss, and infections.

Type 2 diabetes requires you to make healthy lifestyle choices, including eating a nutritious diet, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight. This type stems from insulin resistance due to obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, or hormone imbalances.

Type 1 diabetes also requires a healthy lifestyle. However, since this type is an autoimmune condition, checking your blood sugar levels frequently and following your treatment plan as instructed protects you from health complications. 

Diabetes and spinal disc degeneration

Your spinal column comprises bones (vertebrae) and rubbery spinal discs. Your spinal discs sit between each vertebrae, providing cushion and shock absorption as your spine moves and twists. 

As you age, your spinal discs experience some natural degeneration. Aging discs can lose some of their cushion and water content, causing them to dry out and crack. Degenerated spinal discs can often slip out of place as well. Pain from spinal disc degeneration is common, and the condition can also lead to spinal stenosis and herniated discs. 

While mild spinal disc degeneration is a part of growing older, unmanaged diabetes can quickly accelerate the progression of spinal disc degeneration, leading to chronic back pain.

Protecting your health and your spine

Many diabetes management strategies, such as exercising, eating nutrient-dense foods, and maintaining a healthy weight, are part of any healthy lifestyle. Not only will they keep your blood sugar levels where they need to be, but practicing these things keeps your spine strong as well. 

If you’re living with diabetes and deal with chronic back pain, our team would love to create a pain management plan that’s made up of treatments that work well for you. 

To schedule an appointment for possible diabetes-related back pain, simply call our office or use our online booking feature today.