Common comorbidities of gout

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Gout is a condition caused by an accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints and other body tissues. Unfortunately, it rarely occurs alone. On the contrary, gout is often accompanied by other diseases, some of which can be serious. Below we list the most important ones.

  1. Cardiovascular disease: Gout is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, stroke, and heart disease. About 74 % of those affected have hypertension, and more than 10 % suffer a stroke or heart attack.

  2. Kidney disease: The accumulation of uric acid crystals can also affect the kidneys and lead to kidney disease. About 71 % of gout patients have at least a slightly impaired kidney function (chronic kidney disease stage 2) or worse.

  3. Obesity: Overweight and obesity can increase the risk of gout and also promote comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes. About 53% of those affected are obese.

  4. Diabetes and insulin resistance: Studies have shown that gout patients have an increased risk of diabetes – more than one in four gout patients also suffer from diabetes.

Gout and insulin resistance

Insulin resistance means that the body's cells no longer respond to insulin as they should. This means that the body has to produce more insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Many gout patients have increased insulin levels in the blood, which unfortunately has negative effects on the disease because insulin inhibits the excretion of uric acid and sodium.

Therefore, it makes sense to limit the consumption of sweets and refined flour products, even if they usually have a low purine content. If you want to label foods that cause a strong increase in blood sugar levels, activate the "Low Glycemic Load" profile as well.
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▲ Screenshot: The profile "Low glycemic load" can help you maintain consistent blood sugar levels.

Conclusion

The diagnosis of gout should be a wake-up call. This condition rarely comes alone, and without a change to a healthy lifestyle, there is a risk that the health condition will deteriorate significantly. Therefore, solely focusing on purines in food is not enough. Instead, a sustainable dietary change with less meat, fructose, processed carbohydrates, salt, and alcohol is without alternative.
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Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash