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Most of us recognize the risk of various diabetes complications, such as heart disease, neuropathy, kidney disease, and visual impairment, but can diabetes cause back pain too? Back pain is not something that we typically associate with diabetes, however, there is growing evidence to suggest that diabetes may increase the risk of chronic back pain. In some cases, the overlapping of diabetes and back pain may just be coincidental, as back pain can also be caused by other diabetes risk factors such as obesity. Nevertheless, it helps to understand the association of back pain with diabetes so that you can better deal with the problem.
How Diabetes Causes Back Pain
Although the precise causes of back pain from diabetes are not understood, research does point to several reasons for the increased risk. These include:
Poorly controlled diabetes – High blood sugar levels can contribute to tissue damage, speeding up deterioration of the spine and causing back pain. When poorly managed, diabetes also impairs blood flow, which can contribute to cartilage inflammation.
Obesity – Lower back pain is strongly associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, as excess weight increases stress on the spine. As physical activity is essential for strengthening and maintaining muscles around the spine, a sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to back pain.
Depression – Diabetes patients are at a higher risk of anxiety and depressive disorders, which are also linked to chronic inflammation and pain. This makes individuals with diabetes even more vulnerable to back pain.
How To Manage Diabetes Back Pain
Diabetes back pain symptoms are no different to back pain in individuals without diabetes, but it can be harder to deal with. Fortunately, the risk of back pain can be lowered with adequate self-care. Some steps that can help to prevent or manage back pain include:
Control Diabetes
Keeping your diabetes under control is the key to lowering the risk of any diabetes complication, including chronic back pain. People with poorly controlled diabetes are more vulnerable to back pain and this further raises the risk of hypertension, neuropathy, high cholesterol, and other problems.
Exercise
Staying physically active, even with low intensity activities such as walking, can strengthen the back muscles and lower the risk of back pain. You can also take up gentle forms of exercise such as yoga or Pilates to work specifically on the back muscles, building both strength and flexibility.
De-Stress
High stress levels or chronic stress makes you more susceptible to back pain as your muscles are in a higher state of tension. Stress also increases the sensation of pain, making it important to lower stress levels to reduce or prevent back pain. In addition to taking breaks to enjoy activities you like, also consider taking up meditation and other relaxation techniques.
Quit Smoking & Limit Alcohol
The risk of lower back pain is considerably higher in all smokers and it can also make diabetes much harder to control. Similarly, alcohol can trigger or exacerbate back pain as it causes inflammation in the body.
Although the prevalence of back pain in diabetes patients may be high, the risk of back pain is largely controllable through lifestyle modifications and adherence to diabetes medication. As with most problems, keep in mind that back pain is easier to prevent than to deal with.
