Diabetes and RA

[mickey1]

Unfortunatly I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in January. It was all a bit dramatic as it happened within a 24 hour period. My blood glucose was 22 and my ketone reading 7. Controlling it is a work in progress.....however the meds for this seem to be having an adverse effect on my RA meds. Are there others out there with these two conditions? and how do you fair?

[Biofreak]

Hi Mickey. I have diabetes type 1 not type 2 and have been for 41 years. I am 63. Do you take Metformin to control your diabetes? I inject insulin before meals and that has never had an adverse effect with my RA meds. However Metformin is not like insulin I believe. If I were you I would discuss this with your Diabetes doctor and your Rheumatology doctor. They may have other patients who have experienced this.

[mjrminor]

Hi Mickey1. My dad, who's 71, has had type 2 diabetes and a heart condition (both common on his side of the family) for about twenty years now, and was diagnosed with RA about 3 years ago (just before I was). His doctors have consistently refused to give him any RA medications because they insist they would have an adverse affect on his diabetes meds. I'm not sure if this is because of the combination with his heart meds too. He's also now having liver issues, which may be another factor.

It's awful to see him in so much pain, and I suspect he's had RA for much longer than he's been diagnosed.

I would definitely talk to both your rheumatologist and diabetes specialist about any adverse effects, so that they can monitor you closely and make any necessary adjustments.