Diabetes and lumbar disc degeneration related diseases are common in clinical practice, the relationship gradually aroused the interest of spine surgeons, and the progress was discussed from basic to clinical research in this paper. Diabetes may be one of the risk factors of disc degeneration related diseases. However, progress in basic research has not yet clarified the underlying mechanisms, and the conclusions of clinical observations are not uniform. Correctly understanding the complex relationship between diabetes mellitus and disc degeneration and exploring the mechanism of diabetes induced or accelerated disc degeneration have important clinical significance for the treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of complications of disc degeneration related diseases.