What Is The Connection Between Gout And Diabetes?

Gout, a form of arthritis, is caused by accumulation of high levels of uric acid in the blood. The condition leads to swelling and sudden pain in the joints. Usually, it initially shows up in the big toe but can affect other joints as well.

Research studies suggest that people with gout are typically more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those without it.

The Link between Diabetes and Gout

Type 2 diabetes patients are susceptible to hyperuricemia, and those with high uric acid and gout are may have an increased chance of getting diabetes. Not everyone with hyperuricemia necessarily gets gout, but the chances are greater with rising levels of uric acid.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body is unable to utilize insulin well, because of which the sugar accumulates in the blood instead of moving into the cells. This is known as insulin resistance. Researchers believe this might have a role to play in the development of gout, and hyperuricemia only makes the insulin resistance worse.

A study that was published in The American Journal of Medicine in the year 2010 examined thousands of children and adults. The results of the study suggested that those with higher levels of uric acid were more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.

Other factors that may trigger both the conditions include –

• Obesity – Nearly 90% of Type 2 diabetes patients are obese or overweight. Obese people are four times more likely to get gout than someone who has a normal body weight. This is because excess body weight slows down the functioning ability of your kidneys, and they are unable to remove uric acid from the blood.
• Underlying health conditions – Around 80% of Type 2 diabetes patients have hypertension. This spikes the acid levels and is connected to insulin resistance. Diabetes and gout are also associated with heart and kidney ailments.

Knowing the link between the two helps to determine the appropriate treatment approach. Diabetes patients should try to keep their uric acid levels below or at 6mg/dL in order to avoid the risk of gout. Visit a doctor and get tested for the same if you do not know the actual measure.