Is There A Link Between Diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that typically affects the joints and the tissues surrounding the joints.  The proteins expressed on the surface of cells in the body that are responsible for sending the signals to turn on the immune response can sometimes get confused.  In this case, the body produces white blood cells that eventually find their way into the protective tissues around the joints known as the "synovia."  When the white blood cells invade, addition fluid builds up in the synovia, causing the inflammation, stiffness and pain associated with RA.With such confusion on the causes of this disease, the question is commonly asked;Is there a link between diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Factors Involving RA

While doctors are not sure exactly what causes the body to produce antibodies that attack the fluid-filled sacs around the joints, they do know many of the factors that lead to this confusion by the body.  Most of the issue is genetic.  Carriers of certain genes are more at risk than those who do not have the specific genes.  Smokers are also more at risk than non-smokers.  Women are more likely to develop RA than men, unless the men are smokers.  In that case, the trends are reversed.  Native Americans and Asians also have higher risks for developing RA as the genes that lead to the susceptibility are more commonly found in the genetic makeup of these populations.

Type I Vs. Type II Diabetes

In type I diabetes, the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin to help the liver metabolize sugars.  Type I is typically genetic in origin and can be treated through insulin injections and can be controlled through diet.  Type II diabetes is a disease in which the body essentially becomes immune to the insulin it produces.  The body typically produces enough insulin, but the response from the liver become less and less over time.  It is typically associated with diet and exercise; it can also be treated through insulin injections and through modifications of both diet and exercise, but there are other methods in which the disease can be treated.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type II Diabetes

There is speculation that the systemic inflammation that can arise from the development of RA can lead to the development of type II diabetes.  While it is the joints that are most typically afflicted with RA, the internal organs can also be affected by the swelling and inflammation associated with RA.  Though there is no definitive link, it is thought that the inflammation from RA can lead to the cells in the body to develop a resistance to naturally-produced insulin.

It is not just the swelling that can be a connection between the two diseases.  Treatment of  RA symptoms with corticosteroids can lead to a condition known as hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar.  Patients who exhibit hyperglycemia can often develop resistance to the insulin produced by the body which will leads to type II diabetes.  The pain often associated with RA can often lead patients to want to live a more sedentary lifestyle; physically inactive people run the risk of becoming overweight, which is a contributing factor to the development of type II diabetes.

Though there is no proven direct link between RA and diabetes, patients who are diagnosed with RA should consult their doctor about risks of contracting type II diabetes. 


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