Gout linked to higher diabetes risk You hear me talk a lot about diabetes, and a lot of times I'm talking about it in connection with another, extremely common condition. This is another one of those times. A very recent study, which analyzed data collected for over 15 years, suggests that gout is tied to a heightened risk of type 2 diabetes. This seems to be particularly true in women, for whom the risk of diabetes was shown to be twice the risk of those who don't have gout. The researchers looked at data from the Health Improvement Network, an anonymous network of nearly 7.5 million patients in the UK. They found more than 35,000 people with newly diagnosed gout. Each of these was compared with up to five people who didn't have gout but were the same gender, age and weight (that last one is important, as high BMI equates to a diabetes risk on its own). And after accounting for all other factors, gout still stood out as a significant risk factor for diabetes. Particularly in women--whose diabetes risk was double that of non-gout control subjects. The study noted that those diagnosed with gout drank more alcohol, visited the doctor more frequently, and had more health problems than those who didn't have gout. And based on my experiences treating patients with gout, I'd venture to say they didn't eat particularly well, either. Now, if you have gout, it's not a given that you'll progress to diabetes. But I have one simple solution that can help you ward off both. I generally have my gout patients follow my New Hamptons Health Miracle, but with an emphasis on more alkaline foods. (For an extensive list of alkaline foods, check out www.thealkalinefoods.com.) Start there, and take a brisk walk daily--and you'll take care of your gout and your diabetes risk in one fell swoop. Until next time, Dr. Fred Sources: "'Soda declines look a lot like those seen for cigarettes': Analyst, "Beverage Daily, 9/16/14 ( http://www.beveragedaily.com/Markets/Soda-declines-look-a-lot-like-those-seen-for-cigarettes-Analyst) "Gout linked to heightened diabetes risk." ScienceDaily, 10/2/14 (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141002221236.htm) "Independent impact of gout on the risk of diabetes mellitus among women and men: a population-based, BMI-matched cohort study," Ann Rheum Dis, epub ahead of print 10/2/14