Methylglyoxal Evaluation in Humans

This is a cross-sectional, non-interventional study conducted solely at KU Medical Center in which patients will be recruited and sorted based on the following status: 1) healthy, 2) painful diabetic neuropathy, 3) chronic low back pain as a result of non-operative lumbar aberrancy. Once recruited, subjects will undergo a venous blood draw to measure MGO-protein levels, HbA1c, blood glucose, NFL protein levels and GLO1 activity. Subjects will also complete questionnaires to better understand how MGO levels correlate with pain status.

Inclusion criteria

• Informed consent provided by the subject
• Able to read/speak English
• TYPE 2 DIABETES
• All healthy inclusion criteria AND
• Blood glucose levels > 126 mg/dl
• Diagnosed with neuropathy or experience painful numbness or tingling in their hands or feet
• LOW BACK PAIN
• All healthy inclusion criteria AND
• Chronic (persistent pain lasting longer than 3 months) low back pain as a direct result of non-operative lumbar disc aberrancy (disc herniation, protrusion, or extrusion)
• Aberrancy occurring within 12 months of pre-screening

Exclusion criteria

• Prisoner
• Current clinically significant cardiac or neurological disease
• Diagnosis of IBS, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), postherpetic neuralgia
• Lumbar surgery due to disc aberrancy
• Therapeutic spinal injections within the last 3 months (steroid, ablations, etc.)
• Chronic use of steroids or non
• steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) within 3 months of pre-screen
• Past or present use of spinal cord stimulators