Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

It might be possible that the stress (inflammation) triggers cortisol that trigger insulin could cause it someone that has a predisposition to type two diabetes. Most likely it is silent inflammation that causes type 2 diabetes. I was also told by my last doctor to take glucophage. I took it for one month. My Rheumy who is now my primary doctor now didn't think it would stop me from becoming a diabetic. Instead I am doing the Toxic Fat (Zone Diet) to lower silent inflammation. My fasting blood sugar on my last test was 125. I am right there on the edge. So far I like the diet. Here is a video on silent inflammation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b7...

Thank you so much for that Cinnamint. You are a doll. I appreciate you posting some advice on this. You are a doll. xx Kristy xx

Hey MissKristy,

I've been a type one diabetic (I make no insulin of my own) since I was five, so definitely take this information with a huge grain of salt as type II's are a little differnt.

From my experience right before a flare, my period (which let's face it is like a localized mini flare of it's own), when I catch a cold or flu, have surgery, and some drugs (including many I have tried for RA), all increase my blood sugar levels.

Of course carb loaded food will do it too. ;-)

Even non-diabetics tend to see a slight increase when sick or post surgery. However, they bounce back right away (I'm talking less then a few days here).

It's the extended period of time that makes it hard on your system and can cause unwanted complications some of which you can't recover from. Even say for prednisone induced highs (steriods really try to creep up the sugar levels) - if you are one of those who get higher then normal glucose levels from prednisone and plan to be on it for several months, or even from the inflammation like Cinnament suggested then it's a good thing to proactively do something about it.

I say this because I have noticed when I can keep my sugar levels lower - it helps a lot with the fatigue and the crabbiness. I haven't noticed that it keeps the number of flares down but I am beginning to see a pattern that the flares seem weaker or shorter when I keep the sugar levels down.

Ironically if I go high it does not seem to spur a flare into action. I think these are two seperate beasts of thier own.

I won't even go into the horror stories of what high sugar levels supposedly cause, but there's a long laundry list there that would say you want to keep them down no matter what the root cause of them being high is.

Diets, certain drugs, and exercise can all help to lower your sugar levels. I hope you can get there with diet as I certainly hate to exercise and we all seem to be on enough drugs as it is!

This article about insulin from our expert here on DS is a short version of what is going on prior on getting type 2 diabetes. It reminds me of my Toxic Fat book that my new diet is about.

http://www.dailystrength.org/exper...

After reading the above post I decided to look up the Banting Lecture – Dr. Ralph DeFronzo

http://www.diatribe.us/issues/10/conference-pearls.php

From what he says your doctor might be right to start you on glucophage early along with diet and exercise.

I've had RA for 10 years and no diabetes. Hubby is healthy as an ox and has diabetes since last year. He lost 35 lbs and started exercising and is keeping it under control. I was even obese for 10 years, and didn't get it then. I lost 80 lbs and exercise 6 days a week, in spite of joint issues. I would die without exercise. I had to stop for reconstructive surgery on my foot, and thought I would go insane.

My cousin had RA for 55 years (no mistake - 55 years) and she does not have diabetes. I think the 2 are separate, although there is a possibility they have the same root cause. I have asthma and RA, and sulfasalazine made me realize that the ulcerative colitis was the root cause. Not asthma causing RA or vice versa. For type 2 diabetes, you need to exercise, do weights and lose weight. Do you fit in this category? Also important to eat well. Lots of high fiber foods, little meat, no sugar and we eliminated salt because of my high blood pressure. Dr. Weil's anti-inflammatory diet is what we eat. Google it, W E I L. It works well.

I am a huge fan of Dr Weil. I have been part of his on line programs for years. For me Dr. Weil's anti-inflammatory diet has not lowered my blood sugar enough. I am very use to eating very little meat or protein just like his diet says. But my fasting blood sugar still was 125. So I think for me I need even lower GI carbs than what he recommends. At this point I only eat fruits and veggies (including legumes) and oatmeal for carbs. I am also tying the high dose fish oil that the zone diet recommends. I hope I can reverse this.

It is not all about weight. They say the worlds fattest man might be the healthiest man in Mexico. See http://www.zonediet.com/OurFaithfu...

hello, did you have the a1c test? and I would not go on meds for alittl high sugar I was pre diabetic with a1c test of 5.8 ...a 6 meaning diabectic, then a few months later it was down to 5.3 so no more pre diabetic and no meds;) and didnt take meds with the first sign of pre-diabetic. Godd luck get a second opinion if you can

I got Diabetes type 2 after being given to much Prednisone at the ER for asthma and bronchitis..I ended up staying in the hospital for 5 days because my blood sugars were in the 350's....Pissed me off. Now thought My Blood sugars are mostly in the 130's...I am not on any meds , but I do have glipizide..I think you are right though, inflammation can cause blood sugars to rise..unknown though if it just that or Diabetes...

I just thought of another issue that was brought to my attention. My doc said my high blood pressure was likely a result of inflammation in the arteries caused by RA. My heart is strong, but the mthx was making it beat about 24 beats per minute faster. When I went off it dropped by 25%. So there is a point about RA and meds causing heart disorders. If it can inflame your arteries, I guess it can affect the pancreas, too.