Georgetown Diabetics with Disc Degeneration Benefit from Vitamin D
The intervertebral disc is a complex and important part of the spine. It allows pain-free motion of the spine, or not. If the disc degenerates, spinal motion deteriorates, and pain often rises. This is even more possible for patients with diabetes. It is|It’s]5] just one more issue Georgetown diabetic patients need to tackle. The latest research on diabetes and the disc reveals that vitamin D may be of help in the health of the disc. Dr. Butwell is here to do just that for Georgetown back pain patients in additional to Georgetown diabetic patients who also have Georgetown back pain.
Diabetes, Vitamin D, and the Disc
Diabetic patients with disc degeneration want to take Vitamin D as it prevents and even treats degenerative changes in their discs. How? By improving the content of TGF-β and IGF-1, two influential growth factor cytokines (proteins circulated by cells that control specific interactions with other cells). (1) Dr. Butwell bets you will agree that it is stunning how the health of the disc comes down to the very cells that make it up|of which it is composed! Those cells need Vitamin D to do their job correctly. Dr. Butwell urges Georgetown diabetic and non-diabetic patients alike to look after these cells nutritionally and with Georgetown chiropractic spinal manipulation in the form of Cox Technic.
Glucose Status and the Disc
The glucose status also affects the oxygen consumption rate of degenerated discs: degenerative discs in low glucose have higher oxygen consumption rates and degenerative discs in high glucose have lower oxygen consumption rates. The glucose status didn’t influence non-degenerated discs. (2) Georgetown degenerated discs react differently than non-degenerated ones. Of this, Dr. Butwell is positive because Dr. Butwell sees it daily in caring for our Georgetown back pain patients.
Oxygen Consumption Rates and the Disc
The degenerative intervertebral disc has a substantially higher oxygen consumption rate - 3 to 5 times greater - than the non-degenerative, normal human disc. The degenerative disc is cellularly different. This oxygen consumption rate factor influences the disc’s cellular behavior and even its tissue’s nutritional status as nutrients are delivered to the disc by the matrix and endplates. This rate of transport of nutrients is affected by the degenerative state of the disc. (2) So when should Vitamin D be taken to protect and care for the Georgetown degenerative disc? When the disc is healthy and even more so when it’s not.
Schedule your Georgetown chiropractic appointment at Dr. Butwell to discuss the health status of your Georgetown spinal discs and how Vitamin D may benefit them whether they are degenerative or not.
