Diabetes is known to cause a series of health-related issues in our body because of the sheer complication that the condition brings to your body. In this article, we shall explore and analyze the relationship that exists between diabetes and the problem of gout. So, come and join in for the article “Gout and Diabetes: What’s the Connection?”

What is Gout?

When there are high levels of uric acid in your body, the same takes the form of arthritis or gout. It is inflammation of the joints and can be a really painful state to be in. It ultimately leads to swelling and the destruction of the joints along with problems in the kidney. You usually feel the pain in and around your big toe. However, there are other joints where you feel the pain as well.

Gout is mainly caused when you have high amounts of uric acid in the blood. The acid is nothing but the waste of the purines, and other substances found in the various tissues of the body that are broken down and by the body.

Risk Factors that Cause Gout

The following are some of the risk factors that can contribute to the problem of gout:

• If you have a family history of the condition. Genes are greatly responsible for the condition
• Obesity or weight contributes to the problem to a great extent.
• If you have food that is very high in purines such as red meat, lentils, oily fish, etc. as the same is broken down into uric acid.
• Other problems that lead to high levels of uric acid in your blood such as kidney failure, hypoparathyroidism, leukemia, amongst a host of others.

As is clear, the risk factors that cause gout seem to be very similar to the ones that expose you to the risk of diabetes. The following paragraph explores this relationship in further details:

Relationship Between Gout and Diabetes

According to a few theories by different experts, when you have gout you stand at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and vice versa. This link between diabetes and gout is known to be much common in women than in men. The following points explain this relationship even further:

• A few risk factors that lead to the development of gout are very much similar to that of diabetes. One of them is the problem of obesity. When you find it difficult to manage your weight efficiently, you are greatly exposed to gout and weight management continues to remain one of the major problems that contribute to type 2 diabetes.
• Another risk factor that exposes you to getting diabetes is the poor circulation of blood in your body. Poor circulation is caused when you have elevated levels of blood glucose in your body for a prolonged period of time. Due to the inadequacy of smooth circulation, waste and other toxins get accumulated. This results in the uric acid which then accumulates in the joins causing gout.
• Unhealthy lifestyle comprising of lack of physical activities and exercise, lack of a well-balanced diet, amongst others is one of the major risk factors that expose you to the problems of both diabetes and gout.
• People who suffer from diabetes are also known to be suffering from the problem of high levels of blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the levels of acid, causing more and more of insulin resistance.
• Both gout and diabetes cause damage to the heart and the kidneys in its patients.
• When you have high levels of uric acid in your body, your risk of getting diabetes increases by as much as 20 percent. Similarly, high amount of uric acid which when gets accumulated in the joints cause gout.
• Besides, it is also a known fact that the people who have very high levels of hyperuricemia are more likely to have the problem of gout.
• Diabetes is known to develop when your body loses its sensitivity to the hormone insulin and becomes insulin resistant. Insulin resistance also is known to contribute to the condition of gout. Also, hyperuricemia tends to make insulin resistance even worse, thereby contributing to diabetes.

Thus, it is very clear from the above points that there is, in fact, a strong connection between diabetes and the gut problem.

How Should You Manage Gout and Diabetes?

As both conditions are closely linked to one another, the ways of managing both gout and diabetes are quite similar and include the following measures:

Physical Exercise

Sedentary lifestyle is a major contributor to both diabetes and gout. If you can exercise regularly, you will release yourself from either of the two problems. Around 20 to 25 minutes of daily exercise should be fine and you need not go for heavy forms of exercise. Just take some time out and indulge yourself in some of the other kind of physical activity.

Stay Hydrated

When you drink adequate amounts of water throughout the day, you know that the kidneys are in a better position to flush out the accumulated quantities of uric acid through the urine. You should ideally go for around 8 glasses of water each day. When you are exercising, you can, however, think of drinking more.

Regulate Your Diet

When you are a diabetic, you need to see what you are eating. Similarly, in gout, it is necessary that you regulate your diet in an adequate manner. You need to consult your doctor and also a nutritionist for the best possible result. Following are a few guidelines:

• You should avoid foods that have a high purine content. A few examples include seafood like lobsters, mussels, shrimps, etc. Also avoid eating red meat.
• Avoid drinking alcohol to the maximum possible extent.
• Quit smoking
• Skim milk and yogurt which is of low-fat variety also helps a good deal in avoiding gout. So, include these types of foods in your diet.

Stay Away from Other Health Problems

As seen above, when you have health concerns pertaining to high levels of blood pressure, obesity, kidney-related concerns, there are higher risks of you developing both gout and diabetes. Hence, you should try to manage these problems effectively.

Thus, above factors help you manage both diabetes and gout effectively and in an efficient manner.

We hope that the above article has been helpful in improving your understanding of the relationship that exists between diabetes and your gout. As is clear from the above, the two conditions are strongly linked to one another and one condition can be the cause of the other. It is important to manage both these conditions owing to the complications that you have to face when you are affected by either of these. Hence, for managing both the conditions, it is necessary to take similar steps and measures under proper supervision and guidance!!