Can Diabetes Cause Back Pain?
Diabetes is usually an indirect contributor to back pain, often linked to nerve damage, joint/muscle problems, or spinal degeneration, rather than directly causing back pain.
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How Is Diabetes Linked to Back Pain?
Long-term high blood sugar can damage nerves, leading to diabetic neuropathy, which affects up to about 50% of people with diabetes over their lifetime. Neuropathy can cause pain that radiates from the legs into the back and neck.
How Common Is Neuropathy in People with Diabetes?
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to neuropathy, with around 90% of patients developing it within 25 years in some cohorts. Symptoms may include muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and pain radiating from the lower body toward the back.
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What Do Studies Say About Spine and Musculoskeletal Issues in Diabetes?
A large study in Korea involving over 480,000 people with type 2 diabetes found higher rates of lumbar spine disorders in those with diabetes, including:
Lumbar disc disorder (17.2%)
Spondylotic radiculopathy (21.2%)
Spondylolisthesis (2.8%)
Spinal stenosis (23.1%)
People with diabetes also had higher odds of needing spinal injections, laminectomy, and fusion surgery, suggesting more severe or frequent spine problems.
How Does Diabetes Affect Musculoskeletal Pain?
A Danish national health survey showed that diabetes was linked to higher odds of back pain, limb pain, and shoulder/neck pain. Diabetes is also associated with conditions like osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, which can contribute to chronic back pain.
What Is Diabetic Neuropathy and How Does It Contribute to Back Pain?
Diabetic neuropathy is a common chronic complication of diabetes, affecting over 50% of people with the condition. Around 3–25% of people with diabetes experience neuropathic pain, often described as burning, shooting, or electric-like pain. This pain can radiate from the feet and legs, contributing to overall lower-body and back pain.
What Does This Mean for You?
Back pain is very common in the general population, so having back pain alone does not prove diabetes. However, if you experience back pain along with other signs of diabetes, such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, numbness or tingling in the feet, or slow-healing wounds, it is reasonable to ask for blood tests (fasting glucose, HbA1c) and an evaluation for neuropathy and spine issues.
Experiencing Back Pain and Other Diabetes Symptoms?
If you’re dealing with chronic back pain along with symptoms like excessive thirst, frequent urination, numbness, or slow-healing wounds, it may be time to check for diabetic neuropathy or other complications.
With our Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) services, we can track your symptoms, blood sugar levels, and overall health from the comfort of your home.
Take control of your health today. Book a consultation with our experienced team to discuss your symptoms, get tested for diabetes, and explore treatment options for back pain caused by nerve damage, spine issues, or other diabetes-related conditions.
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