Diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas does not make enough insulin to properly regulate the body's blood sugar levels. Aside from the danger of hyperglycemia, diabetes can also cause problems with other parts of the body due to poor circulation and nerve problems. This can lead to bone problems that can cause severe bone pain.
Osteomyelitis
One cause of diabetic bone pain is osteomyelitis. Kids Health explains that osteomyelitis is caused by the bone becoming infected with bacteria. Diabetes can lead to osteomyelitis because the small blood vessels that provide blood to the bones become blocked, which makes it easier for bacteria to colonize the bones. The infected bone may be very painful, and the skin above the bone can become red and swollen.
Diabetic Dissolving Bone
Diabetes can also lead to small portions of the bone becoming dissolved. The Cleveland Clinic explains that many diabetics experience a patchy loss of bone in their fingers, feet and toes. This bone loss can be very painful and can be seen on an x-ray. In some cases this condition affects patients who were not aware that they had diabetes.
DISH
DISH (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis) is a condition in which parts of the spine develop bony growths. The exact cause of this problem is not well understood, but the Cleveland Clinic notes that 13 percent of all patients with diabetes suffer from it. It is classified as a severe kind of arthritis and can cause severe bone pain, particularly in the middle of the spine.
Osteoporosis
People with type 1 diabetes (which is also known as childhood diabetes and affects patients early in their lives) also have an increased risk of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis causes a gradual weakening of bones, which makes them easily fractured. As the bones get more brittle they become prone to miniature fractures, which may not be as obvious as a complete fracture but which can cause severe bone pain nonetheless.
Charcot Joint
Charcot joint (also known as charcot arthritis) is caused by the ankle and foot having poor sensation as a result of diabetes. This lack of sensation can cause poor support and abnormalities in the patient's gait. This can cause small fractures to occur in the food and ankle, leading to pain in the foot bones.
