Type 2 diabetes alters the behavior of disks in the vertebral column, study shows

Medical Xpress / University of California - San Diego / PNAS Nexus ^ | Feb. 13, 2024 | James L Rosenberg et al

[ConservativeMind]

Type 2 diabetes alters the behavior of disks in the vertebral column, making them stiffer, and also causes the disks to change shape earlier than normal. As a result, the disk's ability to withstand pressure is compromised. This is one of the findings of a new study.

Low back pain is a major cause of disability, often associated with intervertebral disk degeneration. People with type 2 diabetes face a higher risk of low back pain and disk-related issues. Yet the precise mechanisms of disk degeneration remain unclear.

Investigating the biomechanical properties of the intervertebral disk is crucial for understanding the disease and developing effective strategies for managing low back pain.

The study emphasizes that nanoscale deformation mechanisms of collagen fibrils accommodate compressive loading of the intervertebral disk. In the context of type 2 diabetes, these mechanisms are compromised, resulting in collagen embrittlement.

They compared disks from healthy rats to those from rats with type 2 diabetes (UC Davis rat model). The healthy rats showed that collagen fibrils rotate and stretch when disks are compressed, allowing the disk to dissipate energy effectively.

"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," the researchers write.

Further analysis showed that the disks from diabetic rats exhibited a stiffening of collagen fibrils, with a higher concentration of non-enzymatic cross-links. This increase in collagen cross-linking, induced by hyperglycemia, limited plastic deformations via fibrillar sliding.

These findings highlight that fibril reorientation, straightening, stretching, and sliding are crucial mechanisms facilitating whole-disk compression. Type 2 diabetes disrupts these efficient deformation mechanisms, leading to altered whole-disk biomechanics and a more brittle (low-energy) behavior.

[ConservativeMind]

Diabetes appears to influence back discs.

If you are pre-diabetic, consider major lifestyle changed, as soon as possible.

There was nothing noted in reversal of these issues, by putting diabetes into remission, but it would seem likely to partially prevent your back from getting worse.

[ConservativeMind]

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[BobL]

“Yet the precise mechanisms of disk degeneration remain unclear.”

So is it the high blood sugar, or the mega-dosing of Insulin, or both?

Be nice to know!

[sauropod]

.

[KobraKai]

Being overweight is hard on the back. Duh.

[mewzilla]

“Yet the precise mechanisms of disk degeneration remain unclear.”

Now, that is really interesting, isn't it.

Soynds like they can't rule out excess weight being responsible.

And if excess weight plays a part, why limit the warning to Type 2 diabetics...?

[Celtic Conservative]

I have type 2 diabetes and congenital lumbar spinal stenosis. No marathons in my future.

CC

[Faith65]

Thanks.
Very interesting.
Bkmk

[spankalib]

It’s a plausible theory that because high blood sugar causes blood to be the consistency of ketchup, the discs don’t get the (micro)circulation they need, and hence, degenerate.

[Shady]

Ditto. It is debilitating. And yes, I do an intense workout, spinal manipulation and traction 3x a week.

[Nik Naym]

What an ignorant comment.