Can diabetes cause your back to hurt?

Diabetes and back pain commonly occur together, which makes you wonder whether these conditions are related. In fact, evidence suggests that nearly 35% of people with diabetes also have chronic lower back pain.¹

Can diabetes cause your back to hurt? Here’s a look at how these two health issues are linked, and what you can do to get both your pain and blood sugar levels under control.

Understanding diabetes and its impact on the body

Diabetes is a chronic condition where the body cannot use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. It is responsible for moving glucose from the blood into your cells, where it can be used for energy.

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There are several types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, gestational and prediabetes.^{2, 3}

• Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. It develops when the pancreas stops making insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes develops slowly over time. It is the most common type and occurs when blood sugar levels remain consistently high. Type 2 diabetes is caused by dietary choices and we now know can be greatly improved and even cured by changing one’s diet.
• Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy due to high blood sugar levels.
• Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes.

Managing diabetes means keeping your blood sugar levels under control.⁴ When blood sugar levels stay too high, they can damage your nerves, soft tissues, blood vessels and organs. Sometimes, these problems can lead to back pain.

Can diabetes cause back pain?

Yes, diabetes can certainly cause back pain. It can do this in several ways.

Diabetic neuropathy

Neuropathy is the medical term for nerve damage.⁴ Over time, high blood sugar can damage your nerves to cause symptoms including numbness, pain and tingling. It usually affects the hands and feet, but can radiate to your back as well.

Kidney disease

High blood sugar levels can also damage blood vessels in major organs—including your kidneys.⁵ Your kidneys are located deep in the lower back, so any swelling or pressure in this area may cause back pain.

Inflammation

Diabetes can cause system-wide inflammation due to high blood sugar levels, cell damage and oxidative stress.⁶ Inflammation can affect your joints and soft tissues to cause swelling, stiffness and pain in the back.

Musculoskeletal changes

Delayed healing, inflammation, nerve damage and high blood sugar are all components of diabetes that can also affect your bone health. Over time, diabetes can lead to musculoskeletal changes in the form of various bone and spine disorders. Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are examples of bone disorders that may trigger back pain.⁷

Other causes of back pain in people with diabetes

Not all back pain is caused by diabetes, even if your diabetes came first. These conditions share many risk factors, making it more likely for them to occur together.⁸

Other possible causes of back pain in diabetes:

• Low activity level. Being physically active on less than three days a week is linked to diabetes. Lack of exercise may also lead to stiffness, weight gain and weakened muscles. All these factors can cause back pain.
• Poor posture. Slouching and poor posture can put undue mechanical stress on the back to cause back pain.⁹ Lack of exercise may also affect your posture.
• Obesity. Excess weight can affect your posture and the way you sit, stand and move, leading to back pain. Obesity is also a top risk factor for diabetes.
• Certain medications. Back pain may be a side effect of some medications. For instance, chemotherapy drugs and some heart medications are implicated in nerve damage, which may cause back pain.¹⁰

Warning signs that back pain may be related to diabetes

Acute back pain usually resolves on its own within six to eight weeks.¹¹ Common treatments for acute back pain include rest, over-the-counter pain relievers and physical therapy.

Chronic pain, on the other hand, is pain that lasts longer than six months. Back pain that sticks around for a long time may be driven by chronically high blood sugar levels in diabetes.

Back pain may be caused by diabetes if you also have these symptoms ^{4, 6}:

• Numbness and tingling
• Pain that never goes away
• Pain that keeps growing worse
• Pain is spreading to the neck
• Changes in urination
• Muscle weakness
• Poor coordination
• Vision changes
• Gum disease
• Depression

Some of these signs also indicate nerve damage from diabetes. If you have one or more of the above symptoms, high blood sugar levels may be the culprit.

When to see a doctor

Back pain can be extremely debilitating. It’s a good idea to see your doctor about back pain in general, regardless of what you think may be causing it.

If you already have diabetes, check in with your doctor. Your doctor can confirm whether your back pain is caused by high blood sugar or something else.

If you are not diagnosed with diabetes, mention your concerns to your doctor. Catching diabetes early allows you to treat it right away and get your blood sugar back within a normal range. In some cases, you may even be able to reverse it, especially if you have prediabetes. When not treated, diabetes can lead to problems more serious than back pain, such as heart disease and gangrene infections.⁴

Diabetes can be diagnosed in several ways, depending on your symptoms and medical history. Some common tests include ^{5, 12}:

• Fasting plasma glucose test. This blood test measures your current blood sugar level. It requires you to fast for at least eight hours beforehand for accurate results.
• A1C test. This blood test shows your average blood sugar levels over the last three months. The higher your A1C percentage, the higher your average blood sugar levels will be.
• Glucose challenge test. This blood test is usually used only during pregnancy to diagnose gestational diabetes. It requires you to drink a sweet, sugary beverage beforehand.
• Diabetes urine test. This test checks for small amounts of protein in the urine called albuminuria, which may indicate kidney damage.
• Imaging tests. Tests like CT scan, X-ray and MRI cannot detect diabetes, but they can help detect the source of your back pain. Your doctor may order imaging tests like these to evaluate your condition better.

Tips for managing back pain with diabetes

Back pain can certainly take a toll on your well-being. Fortunately, there are lots of practical ways to manage it, even if you are living with diabetes. When you have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar is the best way to manage back pain and reduce your risk for other complications.

Try these methods for reducing back pain with diabetes ¹³:

• Check your blood sugar often, as recommended by your doctor. Your blood sugar target should be 80 to 130 mg/dL before a meal, and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after the start of a meal.
• Eat meals at regular times without skipping. This can help you avoid dangerous highs and lows with your blood sugar level.
• Eat a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet. Certain foods can help reduce back pain and inflammation while also controlling your blood sugar. Fruits, veggies, whole grains and fish are good choices for a balanced diet.
• Exercise regularly. Exercise reduces inflammation, promotes weight loss and strengthens muscles and joints to reduce back pain. It also helps regulate your blood sugar naturally. Start slow with activities like walking or cycling, and increase your intensity level over time.
• Do stretches for back pain. Stretching helps relieve and prevent lower back pain. Try doing movements like bridges and pelvic tilts, or ask your doctor or physical therapist to show you the best stretches.¹⁴
• Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity and excess weight are risk factors for both diabetes and back pain. Exercise, diet and quality sleep can help with weight management.
• Drink less alcohol. Alcohol can spike your blood sugar and blood pressure. It also contributes to weight gain and inflammation, which can worsen back pain.
• Manage stress. Too much stress can upset your hormones—including insulin—to make diabetes worse. It also supports inflammation. Find effective ways to reduce stress, such as listening to relaxing music or taking a warm bath.
• Pain relief options. If natural pain management methods aren’t helping, ask your doctor about other options. Your doctor may suggest medications that provide temporary relief, such as opioids, anticonvulsants or antidepressants.¹⁵ These medications do not treat the root causes of back pain and should be taken only under your doctor’s guidance.

Conclusion

Diabetes and back pain may be related if they occur together. But first, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis.

Knowing for sure whether you have diabetes can help you find the right treatments for both conditions. If your back pain is being caused by diabetes, getting your blood sugar under control can reduce your symptoms all the way around.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have symptoms of diabetes or back pain. Our diabetes doctors at WellMed can create personalized treatment plans for both of your conditions. If you have Medicare, you may be eligible to take part in its Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program.¹⁶

Contact WellMed today at (888) 781-WELL or visit our website to find a doctor near you.

References

• 1. Florêncio, L.L., López‐de‐Andrés, A., Hernández-Barrera, V. et al. (2020, September 4). “Is There an Association between Diabetes and Neck and Back Pain? Results of a Case-Control Study.” J Clin Med. 9 (9): 2867–67. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9092867.
• 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Diabetes Basics. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/index.html.
• 3. MedlinePlus. (2025, September 28). Prediabetes. https://medlineplus.gov/prediabetes.html.
• 4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Put the Brakes on Diabetes Complications. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention-type-2/stop-diabetes-complications.html.
• 5. National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.) Diabetes and Kidney Disease (Stages 1-4). https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/diabetes-and-kidney-disease-stages-1-4.
• 6. Shahid, S., Akhter, Z., Sukaina, M., et al. (2021, June 20). “Association of Diabetes with Lower Back Pain: A Narrative Review.” Cureus 13 (6). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.15776.
• 7. Sozen, T., Basaran, N.C., Tinazli, M., et al. (2018, October 31). “Musculoskeletal Problems in Diabetes Mellitus.” Eur J Rheumatol. 5 (4): 258–65. https://doi.org/10.5152/eurjrheum.2018.18044.
• 8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Diabetes Risk Factors. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/risk-factors/index.html.
• 9. Du, S.H., Zhang, Y., Yang, Q., et al. (2023, September 1). “Spinal Posture Assessment and Low Back Pain.” EFORT Open Rev. 8 (9): 708–18. https://doi.org/10.1530/EOR-23-0025.
• 10. MedlinePlus. (2025, February 11). Neuropathy secondary to drugs. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000700.htm.
• 11. Patrick, N., Emanski, E. and Knaub, M.A. (2014, July). “Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain.” The Medical Clinics of North America 98 (4): 777–89, xii. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2014.03.005.
• 12. National Institutes of Health. (2022, July). Diabetes Tests & Diagnosis. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/tests-diagnosis.
• 13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Manage Blood Sugar. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/treatment/index.html.
• 14. Restivo, J. (2024, June 21). “Stretching and strengthening exercises to relieve and prevent lower back pain.” Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/stretching-and-strengthening-exercises-to-relieve-and-prevent-lower-back-pain.
• 15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, January 31). Nonopioid Therapies for Pain Management. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/hcp/clinical-care/nonopioid-therapies-for-pain-management.html
• 16. Medicare.gov. (n.d.) Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/medicare-diabetes-prevention-program.