Gout and diabetes are two different health problems, but if you have one, you’re more likely to get the other.
Gout is a type of arthritis that happens when a substance called uric acid builds up in your blood. It causes joint pain, especially in the big toe.
Type 2 diabetes happens when your body doesn’t make or use enough insulin, a hormone that controls your blood sugar.
What’s the Connection?
Scientists aren’t sure exactly why gout and diabetes are related.
Gout causes inflammation in the body. Some experts believe inflammation may also play a role in diabetes.
On the other hand, people with type 2 diabetes often have high levels of uric acid in their blood, which could be due to extra fat. If you’re overweight, your body creates more insulin. That makes it harder for your kidneys to get rid of uric acid, which may lead to gout.
Some recent research has shown just how strong the link is between the two conditions.
In one study, researchers looked at the health records of people who participated in the Framingham Heart Study, a research project on heart disease that started in 1948. They found those with higher uric acid levels in their blood were more likely to get type 2 diabetes. Specifically, for every 1 milligram per deciliter (mg/dL) rise in uric acid, the chance of diabetes went up by 20%.
Another report included more than 35,000 people with gout. Scientists found that women with gout were 71% more likely to get diabetes. Men with gout had a 22% higher chance.
