Role of Blood Glucose in Osteoarthritis

According to the Mayo Clinic, a treatment option used for osteoarthritis (Glucosamine) was originally thought to increase blood glucose levels. For those diabetics who also suffered from severe osteoarthritis this could prove problematic, since it might limit their ability to use this particular treatment option without increasing insulin resistance.

Osteoarthritis

• Surgery is one treatment option for osteoarthritis.

  Osteoarthritis, the most common arthritis type, occurs when joint cartilage becomes worn out or worn down. This is normally a gradual process over time unless due to excessive stress or repetitive movement (like on a job) or as a result of a joint injury. This condition affects the hands, knees and hips most often, but it can also affect any other body joint as well.

Causes

• Obesity is one cause of osteoarthritis.

  Heredity, the aging process, being overweight and muscle weakness can cause osteoarthritis, in addition to injury and joint stress. And while blood glucose is not a cause of osteoarthritis, it has been suggested that blood glucose levels may be affected by the use of a certain osteoarthritis treatment known as glucosamine.

  But according to the Mayo Clinic, although some preliminary study data originally suggested insulin resistance (like that experienced by Type 2 diabetics) could be made worse by the use of this osteoarthritis treatment option---that data has since been refuted by other studies.

Blood Glucose's Role

• Blood glucose's role in osteoarthritis is basically nonexistent, then. Individuals who are diabetic---or are experiencing high blood sugar for another reason---no longer have to worry that the glucosamine supplement they take for their osteoarthritis condition will increase their insulin resistance or raise their blood glucose level.

Glucosamine

• The supplement glucosamine's role in osteoarthritis has nothing to do with blood glucose levels; instead, its purpose is to rebuild cartilage that is missing in the damaged joint. Glucosamine is a popular supplement due to its potential in reversing cartilage loss due to osteoarthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic; however, that popularity is not necessarily due to any conclusive evidence of its success in this regard.

Warning

• Glucosamine does not increase insulin resistance in diabetics according to the Mayo Clinic.

  But while osteoarthritis sufferers who are also diabetic don't seem to have to worry about glucosamine's affect on their blood glucose level, continued diabetes monitoring by a physician should not cease as a result.

  In addition, anyone taking the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin)---or any other medication---should check with their physician before starting glucosamine or any other supplement, according to the Mayo Clinic.

  People who are allergic to shellfish should not take glucosamine.