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As we’ve talked about in other articles, diabetes of both types, and fibromyalgia, seem to be related in some way. In this article, we’re going to take the time to take a closer look at type 2 diabetes, fibromyalgia, and their relationship.
On top of that, we’re going to also give you some tips that you will want to consider when you’re trying to figure out the best course of action for treating both of the disorders at the same time.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Let’s take a look at what type 2 diabetes is first so that we have a better understanding of how it goes hand in hand with fibromyalgia. Type 2 diabetes is the type of diabetes that doesn’t happen until someone hits adulthood.
Even though there is a small percentage of young adults and teenagers that end up with type 2 diabetes (various reasons, including poor eating habits and being overweight), they usually end up with type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs between the ages of 35 and 60, usually.
Basically, what happens with type 2 diabetes is that the insulin in your body either stops working like it should or there just isn’t enough insulin to take care of all of the needs that are associated with digesting and processing the sugars in your body.
In these cases, you may be able to keep it under control with diet, but sometimes, a person may need to take and/or use insulin in order to be able to process the sugars that they’re ingesting.
Why Are Fibromyalgia and Type 2 Diabetes Related?
Type 2 diabetes and fibromyalgia are related, mainly because of how hard it is to keep the blood sugar under control. While you can use insulin in order to keep your diabetes under control, that doesn’t always do the job when it comes to keeping your symptoms at bay.
Did you know that your glucose levels are usually directly related to how much fibromyalgia pain you’re dealing with as well? Fibromyalgia pain can get unbearable at times, and if your glucose levels aren’t where they should be, it’s going to be that much worse for you.
They’re also related because of some of the hormones involved with both. There are hormones that work with your pancreas in order to help control your blood sugar. If those are not at the correct levels (whether they’re too low or too high), you’re going to end up with diabetic reactions, and you’re going to end up with fibro flare ups as well. It’s not really a good situation either way, and it’s hard to find a way to make it balanced.
Type 2 diabetes and fibromyalgia also often get mistaken for one another, if for no other reason than because of the way that they make the sufferer feel. Fatigue, difficulty sleeping, stiffness, exhaustion, depression, and a wide variety of other symptoms are shared between the two disorders.
Because of that, they may get misdiagnosed for each other, or fibromyalgia can go unnoticed because a person already has type 2 diabetes. That’s why it’s important to talk to a doctor about your symptoms so that you can figure out what disorder is causing your issues, and so that you can get the appropriate treatment plan started as soon as possible.
What Can Be Done About Both Disorders?
Type 2 diabetes can be controlled, and even eliminated, with lifestyle changes. Since it is often caused by poor eating habits and obesity, the treatments for fibromyalgia and type 2 diabetes are actually intertwined.
As you likely know, obesity can have a negative effect on fibromyalgia patients and their pain tolerance, so if you take care of that, you can essentially end up killing two birds with one stone in the long run.
So, how do you take care of both disorders? Your main job is to do so with diet and exercise. Your diet should be filled with fruits, vegetables, healthy carbs, and healthy proteins.
You should be eating a balanced diet, and there are foods that should be completely avoided so that you don’t have a fibro flare up or an attack related to your diabetes, either. Talk to your nutritionist about diet plans that you can put together, and see what suggestions that they have about what you should and should not be eating on a regular basis.
Another important part of the plan is exercise, which we mentioned above. Physical therapy is usually included as part of the whole plan when it comes to fibromyalgia, so adapting it to weight loss and diabetes control really isn’t a large problem. Also, take the time to find an exercise that you actually enjoy.
For example, if you like taking hikes or walks in the woods, then go ahead and do that on a regular basis. Take your dog to the beach or get involved in a swimming class. Not only will the activity help you to drop some of the weight that you’ve been looking to drop, and it will help get your diabetes under control, but it will also help to reduce a lot of the pain and strain that is often associated with fibromyalgia as well. The more that you’re moving around, the healthier you will be and the better that you will feel in the long run.
Your doctor is the best source of information about your fibromyalgia treatment, no matter what stage you may be dealing with. They will work together with your diabetes doctor in order to determine what treatments that you should be using and how you can find relief from both diseases with the help of treatment plans.
Also, be certain that you’re doing additional research to supplement whatever it is that you may be dealing with so that you can make suggestions and considerations with your treatment plan as well. The move involved you are in your treatment plan, the better off you will be.
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