People with blood sugar disorders like diabetes are at particular risk to developing joint pain and osteoarthritis.  This risk worsens with increasing body weight and increased belly fat.  Therefore, if you wish to gain control over your joint pain and progression of osteoarthritis, you must make a concerted effort to gain control over your blood sugar and your insulin response.

There are many human studies that make this clear, but one particular study in dogs makes the importance of this very clear. 

Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri fed dogs a diet that was either sharply restricted in calories or one that contained normal amounts of calories over a period of 12 years.  From ages 9 to 12, these researchers tested the dogs’ blood sugar, insulin response, time to development of arthritis, and time to death.  They discovered that dogs with the lowest blood sugar and best insulin sensitivity were those who were the least likely to develop arthritis. 

When they looked at what caused the better blood sugar and insulin control, it became clear what the major influence was—lower calorie intake.  Imagine, better blood sugar and insulin control delays the development of arthritis.

This study is actually quite exciting.  It could mean that anyone with osteoarthritis who is overweight, or who has insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes can take charge of her joint health by gaining control of her blood sugar.  This is an extraordinary opportunity.

Low Calories  =  Better Blood Sugar Control  =  Delayed Development of Arthritis

[Larson, BT, Lawler, DF, Spitznagel, E, Kealy, RD. Improved Glucose Tolerance with Lifetime Diet Restriction Favorably Affects Disease and Survival in Dogs. J. Nutr 2003;133:2887–2892.]

Improved glucose tolerance with lifetime diet restriction favorably affects disease and survival in dogs.

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