Learning to live with osteoarthritis and diabetes

My name is Tayyab Mahmood, and I’m 45 years old. I’m a type 2 diabetic, and my life has been a tough battle against both diabetes and osteoarthritis.

My diabetes diagnosis

Learning I have diabetes and osteoarthritis was hard. It started when I began noticing some worrying symptoms – I was experiencing frequent urination, increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision.

Concerned about my health, I decided to see a doctor. They asked me about my medical history and if there was any history of diabetes in my family. They also conducted a physical exam and suggested I take some blood tests (including a fasting blood sugar and oral glucose tolerance test) to check my blood glucose levels.

Based on the high levels of my tests, my doctor confirmed I had diabetes. They then explained to me the different types and severities of diabetes and taught me how to manage it – They stressed to me the importance of making dietary changes and including exercise in my routine, and also the need to monitor my blood sugar levels regularly and possibly take medication to manage them.

It was a lot to take in, and following their guidance has required adjustment and discipline. But it’s been essential for managing my health effectively.

My osteoarthritis diagnosis

Unfortunately, things got even more complicated when I also got diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

I’d been experiencing joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and a decreased range of motion, particularly in my knees, hips and hands. These symptoms were significantly impacting my daily life, and I realised something had to be wrong.

Talking to my doctor, they examined my joints’ function and range of motion to work out the extent of the problem. To get a clearer picture they also recommended I get some X-rays and MRI scans. These tests showed the structure of my joints as well as the level of damage and degeneration, which was characteristic of osteoarthritis. Combining this with my age, symptoms, and medical history, my doctor confirmed I had osteoarthritis and that my diabetes was affecting my bones.

To manage osteoarthritis, you need to approach it in several ways. I needed to take pain medication, do physical therapy to improve my joint function, make lifestyle modifications to minimise my symptoms, and sometimes use assistive devices – My doctor also advised me that later in life, if it becomes severe, I may need to have joint surgery.

Managing both diabetes and osteoarthritis made everything harder. I needed to make adjustments to my lifestyle, manage my treatments, and regularly monitor my health and well-being.

How did my diabetes contribute to osteoarthritis?

Diabetes can affect bones and joints, putting them at risk of conditions like osteoarthritis. In my case, my diabetes caused joint degeneration.

My diabetes caused chronic inflammation throughout my body. This inflammation contributed to my developing osteoarthritis and made my joint pain and swelling worse.

My diabetes also caused nerve damage (known as neuropathy).

Getting treatment

I tried lots of things to feel better. I took medicines, changed what I ate, exercised, and tried to manage my weight. But nothing was a perfect solution.

To manage my diabetes, I need to be careful about what I eat, take my medicine regularly, and check my blood sugar levels often to make sure they’re okay. It’s like a balancing act.

To manage my osteoarthritis, I take pills or get shots to manage the pain, but these only help for a little while. I also do special exercises to keep my joints moving and try to eat foods that won’t make the pain worse.

My diabetes and osteoarthritis also impact each other. When my blood sugar levels are balanced, my osteoarthritis doesn’t feel as bad. But when my blood sugar level is high, the pain from my osteoarthritis is worse.

I’m also worried that at some point I’ll need surgery to replace my joints. It’s a big decision, and I’m not sure if it will make everything better or not.

Despite my challenges though, I’m trying to stay positive and hopeful that things will improve over time. I believe that with patience and determination, I can find ways to feel better and live a healthier life, so I’m doing my best to stay strong and keep moving forward.

Balancing what I need to do with what I can

Managing my diabetes is important, but it’s tough because the things I need to do (like exercise) are difficult due to my painful joints.

Because of the pain and stiffness, simple tasks can feel like big challenges. For example, even going for a walk (which is good for managing diabetes) can be painful because of my joints. And simple tasks like cooking or cleaning become harder because of the discomfort.

It feels like a constant struggle to balance what I know I should do for my diabetes with what my body can handle because of my joints. Sometimes it’s frustrating and discouraging, but I’m trying to find ways to adapt and make things easier on myself.

Managing my mental health

My journey with osteoarthritis and diabetes has been an emotional war. Sometimes I feel really down because of the pain and uncertainty about my future. But I also have moments where I feel hopeful and strong and know I can get through this.

Despite the difficulties, I remind myself that I have faced tough times before and come out stronger, and even though it’s hard I try to stay hopeful. I believe things can get better, like finding ways to manage the pain of my osteoarthritis or to keep my blood sugar under better control.

Knowing I have support from others (like my family, friends and doctors) also helps me feel stronger and keep moving forward.

Final thoughts

Living with diabetes and osteoarthritis is hard, but I’m determined to keep going. I know there will be obstacles and barriers, but I believe no matter what challenges come my way, I’ll find ways to overcome them.