| GOUT DIABETES

What You Need To Do If You Are Suffering From Gout And Diabetes

Ever since time immemorial, the link between gout and diabetes has been like the ebony and the ivory of the piano keyboard. They mix together and, chances are, if you have gout you would have a high risk of having diabetes and if you have diabetes, you would have a higher chance of experiencing gout attack. Gout and diabetes has been plaguing the human race like no other now. Why is this so?

To define, gout is a form of arthritis which causes swelling and pain in the joints and the surrounding tissues which can be excruciating to the point of being debilitating at times. The most common area that it attacks is the big toe, but it also affects the ankle, hand, wrist, heel, and elbow. It can also affect the spinal column which can, in turn, cause back pain. It usually attacks suddenly and can last up to 10 days and is going to recur if it is not dealt with accordingly. It is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood which crystallizes and settles in the joints.

Diabetes, on the other hand, is a disease that involves the abnormalities in the body’s usage of sugar and is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels for a long period of time and a deficiency of the circulation of insulin, which is a substance produced by the pancreas that lowers the blood sugar level of the body. There are two types of diabetes, namely:

Type 1, which is characterized by the inability of the pancreas to produce the insulin needed to lower the blood sugar, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; and

Type 2, which is characterized by the inability of the insulin to perform its normal physiological functions, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes.

Those who are afflicted with gout and diabetes, sometimes referred to as those with gout diabetes, are people who usually have poor diet. It is also being triggered by hereditary factors. Gout and diabetes are associated with a lot of complications, like cardiovascular diseases, eye damage, kidney diseases, nerve damage, gangrene, and sexual dysfunctions.

To be able to avoid these diseases, you should stick to a healthy diet and stay away from sweets and purine-rich foods. Immediate relief can also be felt by using hot compress because it is able to dilate the blood vessels and can increase blood flow. Also, medication that are prescribed by your doctor are also very helpful to help combat gout and diabetes. Exercise is also very much helpful since when you have diabetes it allows you to burn the calories and if you have gout, it increases the blood flow, giving immediate relief.

Gout and diabetes can easily be combated or, better yet, prevented, if you have enough knowledge about it. So if you are suffering from both, do the necessary research and consult your doctor.