Can diabetes cause back pain? Diabetes and back pain have been associated but it is not usually the cause. In most cases, things that cause diabetes also cause back pain, such as being overweight, not exercising enough, and age related problems. Upper back pain diabetes symptoms are usually attributed to muscle strain, poor posture, pressure on spinal nerves, or osteoarthritis. In rare cases diabetes back pain can also be attributed to gallbladder disease or an infection (DiabeticConnect.com, 2011).

Diabetes and Lower Back Pain

Back pain in diabetes which occurs in the lower back and feet has been attributed to nerve damage. This is known as diabetic neuropathy, and it is very common. One clear indicator of this is a numbness that occurs in your lower legs or feet. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearing house (NDIC), 60-70% of diabetics have some form of neuropathy.

Sometimes back pain and …