Diabetes is a disorder that occurs when blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels rise higher than normal due to issues with the way that your body produces the hormone insulin. Glucose is a most important source of energy for the cells which make up your own muscles and cells. Higher sugar in your bloodstream for a long time may cause serious health issues.There are two chief kinds of diabetes:

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes — both of which may cause high blood glucose, but in various ways. Consider sugar as fuel which feeds your body’s cells. To have the ability to input cells and create energy, glucose demands insulin — a hormone produced by the pancreas. If your body does not generate enough — or some insulin, or does not use insulin properly, sugar accumulates in your bloodstream and does not reach your own cells. In case you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, your body resists the effects of insulin, or does not cause enough of it to keep normal sugar levels.What does any of this have to with gout — a disorder that affects your joints? A great deal, really.Studies have demonstrated consuming inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is associated with an increased risk of both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.  And osteoarthritis (OA) and type 2 diabetes frequently co-exist in elderly adults.

 

RA and Type 1 Diabetes

Just like RA, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease — which occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. With type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Inflammatory Arthritis and Type 2 Diabetes

Experts don’t know for sure how inflammatory arthritis such as RA and PsA are connected with diabetes, but research suggests certain factors may drive an association.

Inflammation: Both rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and type 2 diabetes are characterised by inflammation

What researchers do know is that having more inflammation — such as that occurs in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and other kinds of inflammatory arthritis — promotes insulin resistance, and could promote type 2 diabetes.Some of the same inflammatory markers that are high in people with inflammatory arthritis are also seen in people with diabetes.

Certain arthritis medications: Steroids such as prednisone are frequently prescribed for inflammatory arthritis patients to help reduce inflammation and slow joint damage. These corticosteroids are known for having potentially serious side effects, especially when used for long periods of time or at high doses. One such side effect is an increased risk for type 2 diabetes.

Inactivity: People with inflammatory arthritis may avoid exercising because of their fatigue and achy, stiff joints. (Read more here about why it’s a huge myth that you shouldn’t exercise with arthritis.) The less active you are, the greater your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Immobility can worsen insulin resistance and predispose you to weight gain

Osteoarthritis and Type 2 Diabetes

People with type 2 diabetes are more susceptible to developing OA. Research suggests part of the reason may be obesity and aging, which are shared risk factors for both conditions.

Warning Signs of Diabetes

Though type 1 diabetes usually first appears during childhood or adolescence, it can also develop in adults. Type 2 diabetes is the far more common type, and can develop at any age. It occurs most often in middle-aged or older people.

Type 2 Diabetes

Signs and symptoms usually develop very slowly, over several years, and can include:

• Increased thirst and urination
• Increased hunger
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Unintended weight loss
• Sores that don’t heal

Type 1 Diabetes

Signs and symptoms can happen relatively quickly, and can include:

• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Extreme hunger
• Weakness
• Blurred vision
• Unintended weight loss

How to Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes When You Have Arthritis

There’s no way to prevent type 1 diabetes. But there are steps you can take to reduce blood sugar and lower your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, such as:

Stick to your arthritis treatment plan

Keeping your disease activity under control can help reduce inflammation in your body. Some arthritis medications have been shown to protect against diabetes. Research published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research found RA patients who were given a class of drugs called TNF-alpha inhibitors — such as etanercept (Enbrel) and adalimumab (Humira) — were 51 percent less likely to develop diabetes, compared to those who didn’t. If you’re concerned about your type 2 diabetes risk (say, because of a family history or other risk factors), ask your doctor about which arthritis medications may be better for you.

Be more active

Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity, such as walking, at least five days a week. Exercise helps you control your weight and reduces blood glucose levels, as well as reduces arthritis pain and improves function. Talk to your doctor to determine which exercises are safest for you.

Shed extra pounds

If you’re overweight, losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight can reduce your risk of diabetes. For a 200-pound person, that’s a 10- to 14-pound weight loss.

Eat healthy

Focus your diet on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean sources of protein, including beans, nuts, fish, and lean cuts of meat. Control your portions to help cut calories, and choose foods that are lower in fat and higher in filling fiber.