Diabetes is the fifth most deadly disease in the United States. While diabetes treatment typically comes in the form of managing blood sugar levels with or without medication, recent research has shown that chiropractic adjustments can contribute to managing diabetes as well. Even though chiropractic care cannot treat diabetes on its own, it can help patients when combined with other treatments such as exercise and a healthy diet.

The purpose of chiropractic care is to correct misalignments in the spinal column. The primary way it can help patients who have diabetes is by focusing on improving nerve function. One of the main complications of diabetes is significant nerve damage, and chiropractic treatment can drastically improve nerve function and decrease lower extremity and back pain.

How can chiropractic care help people with diabetes? 

Chiropractors offer natural care without any medication or surgery. It can help you regain your full vital potential through your body's innate capacities to adapt and heal itself. Chiropractic care focuses on removing nerve interference between the central nervous system and the rest of the body systems, including the pancreas. Any misalignments of the spine can interrupt the communication between the brain and the body, which may lead to improper function of some of the major organs, including the pancreas, which is responsible for managing insulin.

The seventh thoracic vertebra, or T7, is the one that controls the nerves running through the pancreas, and chiropractic adjustments can remove misalignments and restore nerve function, which can eventually increase pancreatic function. Even though medication and insulin are the most effective ways to control diabetes, they can't solve the problem long-term, and they are not always the best solution for managing pain caused by nerve damage. Chiropractic care can ease chronic neck and shoulder pain that's quite common in people with diabetes while also alleviating the root cause of the disease by improving the pancreatic function.

What does the research say about chiropractic care for people with diabetes? 

Multiple case studies show the direct connection between chiropractic care and a significant improvement in the overall health of people who have been diagnosed with diabetes. For example, a case study that focused on a four-year old girl with type 1 diabetes that was insulin-dependent showed a significant decrease in her hemoglobin A1C levels after she received chiropractic care.

In another case study, 46-year-old diabetic women that received chiropractic care saw improvements of her shoulder and neck pain but also of her diabetes. Chiropractic care works on all ages, with a case study showing an 80-year-old man who suffered from poor balance, lower back pain, and pain in his lower extremities as a result of his diabetes, improving his symptoms considerably after just four months of chiropractic care. Finally, a study conducted by the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health indicates that regular chiropractic care can contribute to the stabilization of the blood sugar levels in the body, which helps people with both type I and type II diabetes.

What is the connection between chiropractic and diabetes? 

Multiple studies have shown that type 2 diabetes accelerates the aging of intervertebral disc cells in the lower back. The findings suggest that diabetic patients are at a higher risk of suffering from premature disc degeneration. Since disc degeneration is associated with lower back pain, it means people with diabetes tend to have more back pain.

Chiropractic care can help alleviate your chronic back pain by eliminating any subluxations that are present in the spine. A subluxation refers to the situation where your bones move out of position slightly due to everyday activities or injury and create pressure on your spinal nerves.

Diabetic patients are also prone to developing sores all over their bodies, which typically look like blisters. If these aren't treated correctly, they can lead to infections and even amputations. By performing various chiropractic adjustments, you can improve the blood flow and reduce your risk of developing sores. Moreover, chiropractors can help people who live with diabetes dealing with some other symptoms, including limited joint functions and stiffness.

Chiropractic care can have a positive impact on your overall wellness and health, and if you are someone who lives with diabetes, you may be able to achieve long-lasting results. Chiropractic care may become a critical component in improving the neural connections throughout your body, with the final result being an overall optimization of your health. Regular sessions with the chiropractor combined with exercise, the right diet, and managing your diabetes according to the instructions provided by your doctor can help you live a healthier life with fewer symptoms and less pain.