What to Eat (Diet) for Gout and Diabetes?

If you have gout and diabetes, you may wonder which foods you can eat safely and which ones you need to avoid. It has been confirmed that diet can play a key role in controlling both health conditions. In general, you need to focus on limiting your dietary purine intake and restrict foods high in simple sugar.

Several decades ago, gout was thought as a disease in rich people. But over time, it seems that gout can affect anyone, the number of cases for people with gout is now drastically on the rise.

This joint disease is closely related to obesity. And today obesity is a common condition. It can be a risk factor of diabetes (type-2 diabetes), too. This is one of reasons why both diseases can be found together in many cases.

In other words, gouty arthritis and diabetes are different health condition, but they share some same risk factors such as obesity and abusing alcohol.

As well we know, diabetes is a condition of when the body is very poor in controlling the blood sugar level. In diabetic people, their insulin hormone (made by pancreas) doesn’t work efficiently – or – is not enough produced to the body needs.

And for gouty arthritis, it starts to occur when some uric acids in the blood go to the joint (mostly in the large joint of big toe, the most common site for gout to occur) and stay in there. Over time, the deposits of uric acids can form urate crystals. These can be needle-like crystals that can cause inflammation, causing a gout attack.

In addition, diabetes can put you at greater likelihood of developing hypertension (high blood pressure) and kidney problem. And these can contribute to the increased risk of gout, too.

Diet for gout can go together along with diet for diabetes. Overall, a well-balanced diet is essential to cope with both diseases.

While controlling blood sugar level is the major goal in diabetes, controlling uric acid level is the priority concern in gout. And both of these variables can be controlled through diet.

Watch on the calories!

Again, the weight of your body matters – if you are obese, this can make both diseases get worse. And your diet can be the key to keep your weight normal or to help lose your excessive weight.

Remember that any foods (even healthiest ones such as fruits and vegetables) have calorie content. So, eat all of them in moderation, unless if there is a specific food that is recommended by your doctor to be eaten more.

And talking about diabetes, it’s not only about weight. You need to also concern about your fat distribution! Pay attention to excess fat in your abdomen – make sure your fat distribute evenly throughout the body!

Additionally, it’s better to include regular exercise, too! This is not only helpful to keep the weight off but also can help improve your insulin sensitivity.

Healthy foods for gout and diabetes

If you have both diseases, your body is relatively easier to have elevated levels of blood sugar and uric acid. That’s why you need to restrict foods high in sugar and purine (a protein that can breakdown to become uric acid in the body).

Overall, there are still plenty of foods you can eat safely. For in depth-information about dietary approaches to cope with diabetes, visit here! And for diet with gout, see here and here!

Watch on alcohol!

There is a link between alcohol and gouty arthritis. It has been scientifically confirmed that drinking too much alcohol can contribute to increase the risk of a gout attack. Alcohol, especially in beer, is high in purines.

Alcohol is rich in calories, increasing your risk of obesity, particularly true if you drink it excessively! Moreover, drinking alcohol may cause the blood sugar to rise, too.

However, some people with gout or/and diabetes are still allowed to drink alcohol as long as they drink it in moderation! But if your uric acid is very poorly controlled (such as higher than 10 mg /dL) or if your blood sugar is not well-controlled, your doctor may ask you to completely avoid alcohol!

In general, moderately drinking is not more than 2 drinks per day for men, and 1 drink for women. If you in doubt whether or not alcohol is safe for your gout or/and diabetes, ask your physician!

Low-fat dairy products

We know well that dairy products are great source for calcium, an essential nutrient to support the strength of your bone. But calcium is not the major concern since calcium deficiency is not linked to the risk of arthritis (including gout). Lack of calcium is associated with osteoporosis, not osteoarthritis!

However, new research suggests that dairy products may help lower uric acid. They may work to help reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes, too.

To keep safe, avoid dairy products that are high in fat. Because saturated fats are commonly considered bad for both gout and diabetes! Furthermore, these bad fats are loaded with high calories, bad for weight control!

Watch on your blood pressure!

Both chronic high blood sugar and high blood pressure can be a great combination to cause serious damage to the kidneys. In fact, kidney disease can be a complication either from diabetes or gout.

And a kidney problem can disturb the ability of the body in removing uric acid in the bloodstream which then eventually can be bad for your effort in preventing gout flare-up! Therefore, your diet should also include foods low in sodium and saturated fats to help keep your blood pressure normal!