Type 2 diabetes can impair the ability of intervertebral discs to resist stress, contributing to their degeneration. This has been shown by a study published in the journal. PNAS Port.
People with type 2 diabetes are at risk of lower back pain associated with degeneration and dysfunction of the intervertebral discs. However, the exact mechanisms of disc degeneration remain unclear, complicating treatment development.
In a new study, scientists compared the intervertebral discs of healthy rats and patients with type 2 diabetes. They found that in healthy animals, the collagen structures (fibrils) within the disc rotate and stretch better. This allows the disc to effectively dissipate energy when compressed.
In diabetes, collagen fibrils were less stretched and stiffer. This led to the deterioration of the biomechanical properties of the animals’ spine. Fiber dysfunction in diabetes has been linked to chemical changes in collagen caused by high sugar levels.
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