You’re probably aware that diabetes can complicate your health in a number of ways, but new research suggests the health condition could also have a negative effect on your vertebral discs.
A team of engineers and physicians from UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC San Francisco and the University of Utah decided to take a closer look at the impact of diabetes on the spine. For their research, they studied the spines of diabetic rodents, and they found that Type 2 diabetes alters the behavior of discs in the vertebral column. Diabetes caused the discs to become stiffer and made them more prone to shape changes earlier than normal.
“These findings provide novel insight into the potential mechanisms underlying diabetes-related disc tissue damage and may inform the development of preventative therapeutic strategies for this debilitating condition,” researchers wrote.
Diabetes And Vertebral Discs
Upon closer review, researchers found that diabetes led to an increased risk of collagen fibril deformation within the spinal disc. These collagen fibrils help to ensure optimal stress loading and allocation, and if these fibrils are not able to manage pressure properly, a disc is more likely to slowly become misshapen, further complicating the ability of the spine to adequately handle a load.
“In diabetic rats, the way vertebral disks dissipate energy under compression is significantly impaired: diabetes reduces the rotation and stretching of collagen fibrils, indicating a compromised ability to handle pressure,” researchers wrote.
Essentially, diabetes ends up altering collagen fibril formation and mobility within the spinal disc. When these fibrils cannot orientate, straighten or stretch as needed as a result of damage caused by diabetes, the entire disc begins to function suboptimally. These discs can then become more brittle and at a heightened risk of becoming misshapen or even fracturing as a result of the impact of diabetes.
The good news is that this research helps us better understand the connection between diabetes and potential disc issues so that we can take appropriate steps to prevent and treat potential issues. Now that we understand how diabetes can impact our spinal discs, doctors can recommend prevention and treatment protocols that help to keep a patient’s spine strong and healthy so that they are less affected by issues related to their diabetes. Of course, appropriate management of diabetes and blood sugar levels will also go a long way in limiting spine issues as a result of an underlying health condition.
Consider this just another reason to live a healthy lifestyle and to implement healthy choices in your day to day life, especially if you have diabetes. Don’t let diabetes cause new issues for your spine. Instead, connect with a specialist who has a great deal of understanding when it comes to spine care and the potential impact of diabetes on your back. For assistance in the greater Twin Cities area, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
