Majority of Diabetics Suffer from Arthritis

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, chances are good that you will-at some point-also be diagnosed with arthritis. About 46 million adults have arthritis and 21 million have diabetes. According to the the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),of those with diabetes, almost 52 percent also have arthritis, which inhibits the ability of patients to exercise and compounds the problems arising from both diseases.

Diabetics aged 18 to 44 have a 27.6 percent chance of having arthritis, which is 2.5 times that of the general population. For those with diabetes between the ages of 45 and 64, the percentage increases to 51.8 compared to 36.4 percent of the general population, and 62.4 percent of diabetes patients 65 and older have arthritis compared to 56.2 percent of those without diabetes.

Charles Helmick, M.D., lead scientist for the CDC's arthritis program, reported the details of the study in the May 9 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Their findings come from nationwide telephone surveys of nearly 800,000 people conducted in 2005 and 2007 in which people were asked if they had ever been diagnosed with arthritis or diabetes. Participants were also asked about their levels of exercise and physical activity.

"The prevalence of arthritis is astoundingly high in people with diabetes," said Dr. John H. Klippel, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. Klippel went on to say that although there appears to be a connection between arthritis and diabetes, the reason for it is not known and offered that a possible explanation is obesity, which is a risk factor for both osteoarthritis and diabetes.

Exercise is especially important for people with diabetes, yet also very important for people with arthritis. However, the CDC study shows that people with diabetes and arthritis are much less likely to get the exercise necessary for preventing both diseases from progressing. With the use of data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC researchers found 29.8 percent of people with both diseases were more likely to be inactive, compared with 21 percent of those who only have diabetes as well as 17.3 percent of those with arthritis alone, and 10.9 percent of those with neither condition.

Diabetes patients who exercise have better control of their blood sugar and a much lower risk of heart disease complications. For people with arthritis, physical activity reduces pain and improves function. However, this new research suggests many patients feel that they are unable to exercise because of their arthritis and the pain it causes. But being physically active by doing aerobic exercise, strength training, walking, swimming or biking can benefit people with both diseases, according to the CDC.

The Diabetes Foundation recommends getting physically active by taking a walk at least three days a week for people with arthritis and diabetes. To get started, the foundation recommends a 10-minute walk that is increased to 30 minutes over time and also recommends walking with a friend to keep motivated. According to Klippel, it is important to stretch your legs, lower back, chest and arms prior to walking.

Maintaining a healthy weight is key as it will place less stress on your joints, and obesity can cause you to tire more quickly, causing you to give up on your exercise program.